It is hard to know now whether Eden was really being serious, or merely protecting himself for posterity.

He has no feeling for the woman, he merely protects her.

A company regulation was passed to protect their rights which merely protected them from dangers.

The bill does not merely protect them, but actually speeds money to them.

The hare merely protects himself, and the Kikuyu do the same.

Sir Andrew's lawyers say they are merely protecting their client's rights to his creative material.

I do not suspect you of treachery, I merely protect my client.

Then I am merely protecting myself and making an example for other ambitious vampires.

The Government needs to realize that merely protecting certain core areas of wilderness is no longer sufficient.

I was merely protecting myself from the pain of witnessing what it would hurt me to witness.