UNPROTECTED Synonyms: 49 Similar and Opposite Words

unprotected

adjective

ˌən-prə-ˈtek-təd

Definition of unprotected

as in vulnerable

lacking protection from danger or resistance against attack the home team scored when the visitors' goalie momentarily left the goal unprotected

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of unprotected Busch says that the school's current response to the abuse is insufficient for the victims who were left unprotected. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026 And the unprotected are more often poor and majority-minority communities. — Michael Phillis, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026 The installations at the 500 delis were completed in April, but the city has not committed any additional funds towards equipping the thousands of bodegas that remain unprotected, Mateo said. — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026 Much of the state's rural groundwater in particular is unprotected, and Kuzdas said researchers at Arizona State University have found that the Colorado River Basin has depleted enough groundwater over 20 years to fill Lake Mead. — Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unprotected

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unprotected

Adjective

Brightly colored and casual beach attire is a no-fail way to get flagged as a vulnerable tourist while abroad.

— Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2026
Supply chains and raw materials are vulnerable to extreme weather, while unpredictable temperatures can affect when consumers want to buy and wear products.

— Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of vulnerable

Adjective

Y’know, the two living, breathing, helpless children forced to sit idle while their mother and (almost) step-father constantly and brazenly risk abandoning them.

— Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026
Muslims who are peace-loving and helpless also need a hand up.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of helpless

Browse Nearby Words

unprosperous

unprotected

unprovable

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“Unprotected.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unprotected. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of unprotected

adjective

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