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 WebAnthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 21 June 2024
At the upcoming summit, participants will celebrate NATO’s 75-year history and its decades-long successes in serving as a bulwark against the Soviet Union and now Russia.
—Yasmeen Abutaleb, Washington Post, 18 June 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 
Noun
But live sports and real-time news would be the bulwark.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 21 June 2024
At the upcoming summit, participants will celebrate NATO’s 75-year history and its decades-long successes in serving as a bulwark against the Soviet Union and now Russia.
—Yasmeen Abutaleb, Washington Post, 18 June 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
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bulwark.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to bulwark
Dictionary Entries Near bulwark
Cite this Entry
“Bulwark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bulwark. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share