Synonyms and antonyms of To protect or defend someone or something in British Thesaurus

protect (verb)

to keep someone or something safe from harm, injury, damage, or loss

defend (verb)

to protect someone or something from attack

save (verb)

to make it possible for someone or something to avoid danger, harm, injury etc

stand up for ()

to defend someone or something that is being criticized or attacked

guard (verb)

to protect someone or something from something dangerous or unpleasant

shield (verb)

to protect something, usually from being hit, touched, or seen

watch over ()

to guard, protect, or be in charge of someone or something

safeguard (verb)

to protect something or someone from being harmed or having problems

shelter (verb)

to protect someone from difficult or unpleasant experiences

keep (a) watch ()

to watch someone carefully to make sure that they are safe or that they do not do something bad

baby (verb)

to treat someone like a young child when they are old enough to do things for themselves

be/stay on guard ()

to be officially put somewhere to guard someone or something

buffer (verb)

to help protect something from harm or damage

champion (verb)

to publicly support or defend a set of beliefs, political aims, or a group of people

cocoon (verb)

to keep someone safe by preventing them from learning to deal with problems

cover (verb)

to protect someone from attack by pointing a gun at someone who might shoot them

cover for ()

to protect someone from punishment, for example by telling a lie for them

cushion (verb)

if a soft object or substance cushions someone or something, it protects them from the effects of a fall or a hit

cushion (verb)

to protect a person or thing from the harmful effects of something

cushion the blow ()

to reduce the effect of a fall or hit

defend (verb)

to prevent something from failing, stopping, or being taken away

defend (verb)

to say things to support someone or something that is being criticized

escort (verb)

to go somewhere with a person, vehicle, ship etc in order to protect them or to prevent them from escaping

extricate (verb)

formal to get someone or something out of a place, when this is difficult or dangerous

fortify (verb)

to protect a place against attack by building strong walls, towers, or other structures around it

gather someone into your arms ()

to put your arms around someone, especially to protect them

guard (verb)

to watch a place carefully to protect someone from attack, to prevent something from being stolen, or to prevent someone from escaping

guard (verb)

to try very hard to keep something that is important to you

harbor ()

the American spelling of harbour

harbour (verb)

to protect someone who has done something wrong

hold out ()

to continue to defend a place that is being attacked

insulate (verb)

to protect someone from unpleasant knowledge or harmful experiences

keep an eye on ()

to look after someone or something

leap to someone’s defence ()

to quickly say or do something in order to help someone who is being criticized

look after ()

to take care of something that belongs to someone else and make certain it is not damaged or stolen

mind (verb)

British to look after someone or something for a short time

mollycoddle (verb)

to make someone’s life too easy by protecting them too much and doing too much for them

proof (verb)

to protect something from being affected or damaged by something else

retrieve (verb)

to save or protect something that is going to be lost, damaged, or destroyed

sandbag (verb)

to protect a place with sandbags

save (verb)

to make it possible for someone to avoid doing something

save someone from themselves ()

to stop someone from behaving in a way that will harm them

save someone’s life ()

to stop someone from dying

save someone’s skin/neck/bacon ()

to help someone or yourself to avoid a difficult or unpleasant situation, especially in a way that is not very brave

screen out ()

to prevent something that is dangerous or unsuitable from coming in

secure (verb)

formal to make an area or building safe

sheathe (verb)

to cover and protect something

shelter (verb)

to protect someone or something from bad weather

shelter (verb)

to protect someone from danger, for example by giving them a secret place to stay

shield (verb)

to protect someone from something unpleasant

spare (verb)

to prevent someone from experiencing an unpleasant, painful, or embarrassing situation or feeling

stand/keep guard ()

to watch a person or place carefully in order to protect them from attack, or to prevent someone from escaping

take someone’s part ()

to defend someone who is being criticized, or to support them in an argument

take up the cudgels ()

to take action to support or defend a person, idea, political movement etc

tighten (verb)

to make an arrangement for guarding or protecting something more effectively

watch (verb)

to take care of a child, an animal, or someone’s property for a short time and make sure that nothing harms it

wet-nurse (verb)

to treat an adult like a child, especially by protecting or helping them too much