| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | take care of; guard from harm |
| Synonyms: | assure, bulwark, care for, champion, chaperon, conserve, cover, cover all bases, cover up, cushion, defend, fend, foster, give refuge, give sanctuary, go to bat for, harbor, hedge, insulate, keep, keep safe, look after, preserve, ride shotgun for, safeguard, save, screen, secure, sentinel, shade, shelter, shield, shotgun, stand guard, stonewall, support, take under wing, watch, watch over |
| Antonyms: | attack, harm, hurt, injure |
| Main Entry: | defensive |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | protective, watchful |
| Synonyms: | arresting, averting, balking, checking, conservative, coping with, defending, foiling, forestalling, frustrating, guarding, in opposition, interrupting, opposing, preservative, preventive, protecting, resistive, safeguarding, thwarting, uptight*, warding off, withstanding |
| Notes: | defendable means capable of being protected or justified; defensible means capable of being defended or justified; defensive means attempting to justify or defend |
| Antonyms: | undefensive, unprotective, unwary, unwatchful |
| Main Entry: | on guard |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | defensive |
| Synonyms: | alert, averting, cautious, checking, defending, expectant, guarding, preservative, preventive, protecting, safeguarding, vigilant, warding off, watchful, withstanding |
| Main Entry: | patrol |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | guarding; guard |
| Synonyms: | convoying, defending, escorting, garrison, lookout, patroler, policing, protecting, protection, rounds, safeguarding, scouting, sentinel, spy, vigilance, watch, watching, watchperson |
| Main Entry: | protection |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | care, guardianship |
| Synonyms: | aegis, armament, armor, assurance, barrier, buffer, bulwark, camouflage, certainty, charge, conservation, cover, custody, defense, fix, guard, guarding, insurance, invulnerability, preservation, protecting, reassurance, refuge, safeguard, safekeeping, safety, salvation, screen, security, self-defense, shelter, shield, stability, strength, surety, tutelage, umbrella*, ward, wardship |
| Antonyms: | attack, harm, hurt, injury, threat |
| Main Entry: | protective |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | guarding, securing |
| Synonyms: | careful, conservational, conservative, covering, custodial, defensive, emergency, guardian, insulating, jealous, possessive, preservative, protecting, safeguarding, sheltering, shielding, vigilant, warm, watchful |
| Antonyms: | attacking, harmful, hurtful, injurious, threatening |
| Main Entry: | resistance |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | fighting, opposition |
| Synonyms: | battle, blocking, check, combat, contention, counteraction, cover, defiance, detention, fight, friction, halting, hindrance, holding, impedance, impediment, impeding, intransigence, obstruction, parrying, protecting, protection, rebuff, refusal, retardation, safeguard, screen, shield, stand, striking back, struggle, support, warding off, watch, withstanding |
| Antonyms: | compliance, conforming, cooperation, submission |
| Main Entry: | safekeeping |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | protection |
| Synonyms: | aegis, assurance, care, certainty, cover, custody, guardianship, guarding, insurance, preservation, protecting, reassurance, refuge, safeguard, security, shelter, supervision, trust |
| Main Entry: | insulation |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | the act of insulating |
| Synonyms: | caulking, cording, covering, cushioning, defending, furring, isolating, lining, neutralizing, packing, padding, protecting, surrounding, taping |