bul·wark
ˈbu̇l-(ˌ)wərk 
-ˌwȯrk;
ˈbəl-(ˌ)wərk;
sense 3 also ˈbə-ˌläk
1
a
: a solid wall-like structure raised for defense : rampart
b
: breakwater, seawall
building a bulwark in the harbor
2
: a strong support or protection
democratic principles that stand as a bulwark against tyranny
a bulwark of freedom
3
nautical
: the side of a ship above the upper deck
—usually used in plural
bulwarked; bulwarking; bulwarks
: to fortify or safeguard with a bulwark
ability to bulwark a moral choice—
Margaret Mead
Margaret MeadSynonyms
Examples of bulwark in a Sentence
Noun
democratic principles that stand as a bulwark against tyranny
Verb
vowed to use any means necessary to bulwark the country against a terrorist attack
Recent Examples on the Web
Mohanad Hage Ali, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2024
But the letter from Jeffries — who many hope will be the first Black American to hold the speaker’s gavel — throws into question whether even that bulwark might be developing cracks.
—Karen Tumulty, Washington Post, 12 July 2024
Hua Hsu, The New Yorker, 16 June 2024
This makes Iraq a weak but vital ally and bulwark against Iranian influence.
—Michael Wahid Hanna, Foreign Affairs, 14 Feb. 2019
See all Example Sentences for bulwark 
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Noun
In fact, the more humiliated and insecure Iran becomes, the more likely the regime in Tehran will see Hezbollah as a necessary bulwark against Israel, especially if the organization manages to restore Iran’s trust in its capabilities.
—Mohanad Hage Ali, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2024
But the letter from Jeffries — who many hope will be the first Black American to hold the speaker’s gavel — throws into question whether even that bulwark might be developing cracks.
—Karen Tumulty, Washington Post, 12 July 2024
Verb
These were not men like Elon Musk fretting about virility as some bulwark against extinction.
—Hua Hsu, The New Yorker, 16 June 2024
This makes Iraq a weak but vital ally and bulwark against Iranian influence.
—Michael Wahid Hanna, Foreign Affairs, 14 Feb. 2019
See all Example Sentences for bulwark
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Cite this Entry
“Bulwark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bulwark. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
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