Another Word for Protect – Meaning, Synonyms, and Examples
The word protect is a common verb meaning to keep safe from harm or injury. To make your English more varied and specific, learning another word for protect will help. Using synonyms allows you to specify whether you mean guarding, defending, or preserving.
What is Another Word for Protect?
A great synonym for protect is safeguard. Protect means to keep safe from harm or injury. Safeguard means to guard or defend. Both words capture the idea of keeping something secure from potential threats. Learning words like safeguard helps you emphasize the active steps taken to keep something secure, often against specific risks or losses.
Meaning of “Protect”
Protect means to keep safe from harm or injury; to defend or guard.
We use it for physical safety (to protect a child), defense (to protect the border), or preservation (to protect a species).
Synonyms for “Protect”
Here are some common ways to say protect:
- Safeguard: To guard or defend. (A strong alternative emphasizing active security.)
- Defend: To resist an attack made on (someone or something); to protect from harm or danger. (Used when emphasizing resistance against a threat.)
- Shield: To protect (someone or something) from something dangerous or unpleasant. (Used when emphasizing covering or blocking a direct impact.)
- Preserve: To maintain (something) in its original or existing state. (Used when emphasizing conservation or maintenance of status.)
- Secure: To succeed in obtaining (something), especially after difficulty; or, to make safe. (Used when emphasizing making something firm or safe from risk.)
Example Sentences
- It is the government’s duty to safeguard the interests of its citizens.
- The soldiers fought bravely to defend the city from the invasion.
- She used her arm to shield her eyes from the bright sunlight.
- We must work to preserve the ancient ruins for future generations.
- Please secure the boat with a second rope before the storm hits.
Mini Dialogue
Sam: “How can we protect our data from hackers?”
Mia: “We need to secure the network with a better firewall. That will safeguard our most critical files.”
Sam: “And we must also defend against phishing attempts.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Don’t use Preserve when referring to immediate physical danger (e.g., preserve the building from fire). Use Shield or Defend for immediate threats.
✅ Do use Safeguard for general security, and Preserve for long-term conservation.
Let’s Practice!
Which synonym best fits this sentence? “The company took legal action to __________ its intellectual property from being copied by competitors.” (Answer: Safeguard – This synonym works best because it refers specifically to taking active steps to keep an asset secure from risk or loss.)
Practice Tip
Use safeguard or defend instead of “protect” in your next conversation about security.
Final Note
Knowing what is another word for protect and practicing synonyms like safeguard and defend will help you describe safety and defense clearly.
