guard 1 of 2

Definition of guardnext
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as in defensive
a position of readiness to oppose actual or expected attack be on your guard against snakes in the swamp

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in lock
a protective device (as on a weapon) to prevent accidental operation slid the guard into place over the chainsaw chain

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in guide
one that accompanies another for protection, guidance, or as a courtesy the honor guards raised their sabers as the happy couple descended the church steps

Synonyms & Similar Words

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guard

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word guard different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of guard are defend, protect, safeguard, and shield. While all these words mean "to keep secure from danger or against attack," guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger.

White House entrances are well guarded

In what contexts can defend take the place of guard?

The words defend and guard are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.

defend the country

When can protect be used instead of guard?

While the synonyms protect and guard are close in meaning, protect implies the use of something (such as a covering) as a bar to the admission or impact of what may attack or injure.

a hard hat to protect your head

Where would safeguard be a reasonable alternative to guard?

In some situations, the words safeguard and guard are roughly equivalent. However, safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger.

our civil liberties must be safeguarded

When is shield a more appropriate choice than guard?

The words shield and guard can be used in similar contexts, but shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack.

shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand

Example Sentences

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 guard
Noun
The fact the 6-foot-7, 200-pound, 22-year-old shooting guard out of the University of Kansas was removed from the mix after the All-Star Break has led some media and fans to believe Dick will be traded this offseason. Gary Bedore june 16, Kansas City Star, 16 June 2026 Lewis, Hunt and Moton will keep their longtime starting roles at left guard, right guard and right tackle, respectively. Mike Kaye june 16, Charlotte Observer, 16 June 2026
Verb
The Knicks won their first NBA Championship since 1973 on Saturday night, with Knicks guard Jalen Brunson carrying the team with 45 points scored. Joe Otterson, Variety, 16 June 2026 Knicks guard Jalen Brunson was named MVP of the series after scoring 45 points, nearly half of the team’s total, in game five. Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for guard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guard
Noun
  • Day had been assigned as King's legal guardian after his grandmother had a stroke, and he was later placed with the Department of Human Services after Day gave him up.
    JT Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 17 June 2026
  • Bewildered by the change, Emily scrambles to restore their bond, implausibly teaching herself piano in a bid to impress her guardian.
    Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 16 June 2026
Noun
  • The trash-talking defensive back has already become a presence around the team.
    Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 11 June 2026
  • The panel's decision was a victory for Democrats, who since last year have often found themselves on the defensive against Republican efforts to redraw congressional districts around the country in an effort to maintain their razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives.
    Dan Mangan, CNBC, 27 May 2026
Noun
  • Now, Mckenna Grace is stepping into the role — and has already traded her signature blonde locks for Daphne's iconic red hair.
    Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026
  • At Marin’s home, McNulty allegedly used his credit cards, changed the locks while he was hospitalized and flushed cloth napkins down the toilet, clogging the pipes, Vanity Fair reported.
    Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026
Noun
  • Teams across the league are leaning into two- and three-tight-end sets to force defenses to play with bigger bodies, which affects their speed in coverage.
    Alec Lewis, New York Times, 16 June 2026
  • Elijah Just rumbled toward the box and seemed to pinball around the Iranian defense.
    Iliana Limón Romero, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2026
Noun
  • Songtams' guides can bring you to local temples and arrange cultural experiences to the Yunnan Nationalities Village showcasing ethnic minority cultures like the Yi, Bai, and Dai people.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 June 2026
  • Be sure to check out Bee reporter Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado’s newcomer’s guide to Sacramento’s LGBTQ bars, churches, drag shows and more.
    Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • There was no call – and the story repeated itself seconds later when Bridges took a hand to the face from a Spurs defender.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
  • In the seventh minute, McKennie’s pass went off Paraguayan defender Damian Bobadilla into the net for an own goal.
    Michael Lewis, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Verb
  • Australia is accelerating efforts to protect frontline troops from the growing threat of small drones, awarding a contract to defense technology firm OpenWorks under the Australian Defence Force’s Land 156 counter-drone program.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 June 2026
  • More recent land news Republicans have introduced an amendment to a federal wildfire bill that would repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule protecting certain national forest lands from logging and roadbuilding, reports Brooke Larsen of the Salt Lake Tribune.
    Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • Britain responded with a war-footing, blockading the Bay of Naples.
    Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 15 June 2026
  • Gang federations such as the G9, for example, has blockaded access to ports and restricted access to gasoline and diesel supplies, while other groups, including the 5 Segonn gang, have periodically blocked access to the private Port Lafito.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 10 June 2026

Cite this Entry

“Guard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guard. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.

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