guard 1 of 2

1
2
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

3
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

4
5
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
Flawer says the moment caught him completely off guard. Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025 The Big West has had some guards successfully level up in recent years — Taze Moore (Houston), Zyon Pullin (Florida) and Latrell Wrightsell (Alabama). Cj Moore, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
Police have fanned out to guard synagogues across the country. Alex Leff, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025 The bill would have expanded existing laws guarding legislators’ and their families’ personal information from data brokers to the general public. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for guard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guard
Noun
  • Madeley will play Aunt Medora, Ellen’s former guardian.
    Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Anna Madeley as Aunt Medora, Ellen’s lively, amoral aunt and former guardian.
    Joe Otterson, Variety, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • But junior defensive back Liam McGlynn recorded an interception to keep the Mustangs off the board.
    Frank Rajkowski, Twin Cities, 20 Sep. 2025
  • On the third play from scrimmage, freshman defensive back Kiingbaraka Kizzee grabbed a deflected pass for an interception and returned the ball 46 yards to the Sierra Canyon 5.
    Dan Albano, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Need to get past an electronic door with a finger-print key lock?
    Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Jared Spurgeon, Brock Faber and Zach Bogosian are locks for the roster on the right side of the defense, and Jake Middleton and Zeev Buium are on the left.
    Joe Smith, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Essential services like defense and law enforcement would continue throughout a shutdown, as would mandatory spending programs like Social Security and Medicare, BAI added.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Though Brock Purdy threw over 300 yards in his return from injury, the Jaguars' defense caused five turnovers, including a strip sack that sealed the game in the fourth quarter.
    James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • With the help of a behelit, Entertainment Weekly has put together the ultimate guide to this sprawling action anime.
    Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Check out our activation guide for help on getting started.
    Detroit Free Press, Freep.com, 27 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • During a two-point conversion play, Jennings caught the ball in the endzone, but was smashed between two Jaguars defenders.
    James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Brown climbed the ladder to haul in a pass over the middle from Madsen, beating his defender in the air acrobatically before smashing into the end zone turf for the catch and a 33-14 lead.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • They’re designed for indoor and outdoor wear thanks to a durable outsole and warm shearling lining that protects against chilly temperatures.
    Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
  • They are designed to protect homes and businesses against the type of winter storms that have severely flooded the low-lying community of Alviso multiple times with water up to 6 feet deep and which are posing more risk as sea level rises due to climate change.
    Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet blockaded Ukrainian ports, occupied Snake Island, and threatened Odessa, the country’s main coastal city.
    ANDRIY ZAGORODNYUK, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2025
  • The education ministry said around 100 schools were disrupted and 27 fully blockaded.
    Saskya Vandoorne, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Guard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guard. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.

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