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janitor

noun

ˈja-nə-tər How to pronounce janitor (audio)
Definition of janitornext
1
as in custodian
a person who takes care of a property sometimes for an absent owner got a job as the night janitor at the elementary school

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in porter
a person who tends a door according to popular Christian tradition, St. Peter acts as janitor at heaven's pearly gates

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 janitor The 1,000-student liberal arts school — which boasts a statue of US President James Garfield, who worked as a janitor there to pay his tuition — eventually pulled more than $47 million from the fund. — Bloomberg, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026 California is set to launch such a database by next summer for school support staff, such as bus drivers and janitors, with substantiated claims of egregious misconduct. — Holly McDede, ProPublica, 31 Aug. 2026 The titular gang comprises Mac (McElhenney), a closeted wannabe tough guy; the narcissistic prepster Dennis (Glenn Howerton); Dennis’s chronically unsure fraternal twin, Dee (Kaitlin Olson); and the bar’s buffoonish janitor, Charlie (Charlie Day). — Paula Mejía, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026 The janitor then told nurses of the discovery, and police were notified as required by law. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for janitor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for janitor
  1. custodian
  2. porter
  3. keeper
  4. warden
  5. caretaker
Noun
  • In Colorado, custodians have to transfer assets within 60 days of receiving an affidavit from the charity claiming the funds.
    — Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Long is on Zoom, from her home in Los Angeles and seated at her kitchen counter with the sliding doors behind her, where a custodian is cleaning the deck that coyotes keep fouling.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of custodian
Noun
  • The brand also popped up in the Hamptons and partnered with Net-a-porter on an exclusive capsule that was launched with a train-to-luncheon activation in London this past summer.
    — Emily Mercer, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Browns Brown ales and porters, while not as dark as black stouts, are strikingly dark compared with almost every other style.
    — Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of porter
Noun
  • Ultimately, Jenkins capped the drive with a 4-yard keeper, putting UCF ahead 34-27 with 33 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
    — Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Trey Owens fooled the TCU defense with a 34-yard keeper on third-and-1 to get inside the 10-yard line.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of keeper
Noun
  • Luckily — or maybe unluckily — the camp’s warden, a hardbitten guy with an oily smile named Clancy (Russell Crowe, hardbitten, smiley, and oily), takes a liking to Murphy.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026
  • According to the post, Kentucky State Police Aviation saw smoke in the area, and wardens and search and rescue personnel were able to access the location, near the headwaters of Cave Run Lake, using a boat.
    — Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of warden
Noun
  • Chan says the choice was tied to a broader decision to root the film in the patient’s own experience rather than a family’s or caretaker’s view of her.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Alongside another caretaker in the department, Scruggs pays for Cheeto’s care and medical expenses out of pocket.
    — Vince Basada, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of caretaker

Browse Nearby Words

jangly
janitor
janitors
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Cite this Entry

“Janitor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/janitor. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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