How to Use self-defense in a Sentence

self-defense

noun
Definition of self-defensenext
  • So that, that in a sense, was what ruled out self-defense.
    — Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 11 Mar. 2023
  • People at the tent city agreed Sam had the knives for self-defense.
    — Jose A. Del Real, Washington Post, 19 July 2024
  • She was not charged in the case after it was ruled to be self-defense.
    — Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 17 Feb. 2024
  • The law on self-defense isn’t as clear-cut here as in other states.
    — Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 17 July 2023
  • Parker said Dews fired in self-defense but still broke the law.
    — Cameron Knight, The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2023
  • Here are the best self-defense weapons that are discrete and easy to acquire.
    — John Thompson, Men's Health, 27 July 2023
  • Seavey told the race’s officials that out of self-defense, he was forced to shoot the moose with a handgun.
    — Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 6 Mar. 2024
  • At the time, his attorney, Clark Birdsall, told The News that there is a case to be made for self-defense.
    — Zaeem Shaikh, Dallas News, 21 July 2023
  • Le Chet called it a setup and said Bane had acted in self-defense.
    — Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2024
  • The victim stabbed his assailant three times in self-defense, Heims said.
    — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2023
  • There are hopes for group haircuts and foot soaks and self-defense classes.
    — Jennifer Egan, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023
  • In the lead-up to the trial, a small group appeared near the courthouse to support Ashley's claims of self-defense.
    — Jim Axelrod, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2024
  • Some species can even vomit toxins as a means of self-defense.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 16 Feb. 2023
  • Any nation would do the same, as a simple matter of self-defense.
    — Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 12 Oct. 2023
  • The push was a spontaneous act of self-defense, Brian said.
    — Eli Saslow Erin Schaff, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2023
  • In eight states, a person is allowed to use deadly force in self-defense.
    — Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 21 Apr. 2023
  • Alvarez’s defense claimed that the shooting had been done in self-defense.
    — Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2024
  • Watch out, bears: Floridians will be able to shoot and kill bears in self-defense or to protect their pet.
    — Gabriela Henriquez Stoikow, Orlando Sentinel, 30 June 2024
  • The fight club gains traction and soon the most popular girls in school are beating each other up in the name of self-defense.
    — Charna Flam, Variety, 6 June 2023
  • The judge said there was no evidence that the victim provoked the attack or that he was killed in self-defense.
    — City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2023
  • The case hinged on whether Perry killed Foster, who carried an AK-47, in self-defense.
    — Anumita Kaur, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Apr. 2023
  • Cox claimed self-defense in the shooting and died of natural causes in Dec. 2019.
    — Corin Cesaric, Peoplemag, 15 May 2023
  • The four teenagers attempted to claim self-defense because the victim punched first.
    — Heather Hunter, Washington Examiner, 19 Dec. 2023
  • Watch out, bears: Floridians can now shoot and kill bears in self-defense or to protect their pet.
    — Ana Ceballos and, Miami Herald, 27 June 2024
  • Hayes' defense said that Smith feared for his life and was acting in self-defense by shooting Smith.
    — Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 29 Jan. 2024
  • Lori Vallow and her brother were questioned by police at the time and claimed self-defense.
    — Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 10 Apr. 2024
  • The machete can even be a formidable self-defense weapon if push comes to shove.
    — Jim Cobb, Field & Stream, 4 Jan. 2024
  • The victim reported punching Rogers in the face and scratching his neck in self-defense.
    — Arkansas Online, 1 Mar. 2023
  • The agency, with little to dispute Williams’ claims of self-defense, closed the case, ruling that Snipes’ vote was not a factor in his killing.
    — Tracy Scott Forson, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Nov. 2024
  • Leslie Reeves, who had a master's degree in engineering, chose instead to teach Pilates and to promote self-defense classes for women.
    — Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'self-defense.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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