guard 1 of 2

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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
He was replaced at right guard by veteran Brady Christensen, who sustained a serious Achilles injury on Sunday against the Bills. Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 29 Oct. 2025 To make room for Ferrell on the practice squad, rookie guard Drew Moss was waived. Cam Inman, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
Lawrence, once an interview-show staple, has retreated from the spotlight in recent years, choosing her movie roles sparingly and closely guarding her private life. Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025 Meanwhile, Kuzma may have just revealed a dirty little secret about how to guard the University of Kentucky product. Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for guard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guard
Noun
  • Enough so, Jelinek says, that Bagby, who was 18, even became his temporary legal guardian to make filming easier on his parents.
    Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Police are hoping the find will remind parents and guardians to check their children's Halloween candy.
    Christina Hall, Freep.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The sounds and images of heavy construction equipment ripping apart one of the most historic places in the United States, though, have put the White House on the defensive.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Zelenskyy, who is expected to push for more military support, including long-range Tomahawk missiles that could be used to strike deep inside Russia, said the talks showed Putin was on the defensive.
    Henry Austin, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Kardashian shared images on Instagram of herself sporting the blonde locks, yellow plaid skirt and blazer and white knee-high socks worn by Alicia Silverstone's character, Cher, in the iconic 1995 movie.
    Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Think of it like putting a lock on your front door.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Their talks are expected to cover tariffs, regional security and Japan’s defense spending, all points of tension in recent months.
    Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Prabhat Ranjan Mishra Prabhat, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, is a tech and defense journalist.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This watch guide was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
    Data Skrive, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • For a more traditional bar experience, take a look at our etiquette guide to British pubs.
    Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Like Super, the public defender, Stephan agreed that the county’s approach is a work in progress.
    Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Bearzot didn’t select a replacement for Antognoni, instead playing both Gentile and Bergomi and switching to a system featuring five defenders in front of 40-year-old goalkeeper Dino Zoff, the side’s captain.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In the below example, against Real Oviedo’s zonal scheme protecting the six-yard box, three players run away from goal and one to the near-post to attack Marcus Rashford’s outswinger, resulting in Araujo scoring.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • In some cases, sportsbooks have taken down odds on certain events to protect against manipulation.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • To test if this really was a White House operation, Grace and I followed one of the trucks out of the golf course, past the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, to a path that normally leads to the White House but was blockaded.
    Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Britain was France’s most persistent opponent and was determined to control the seas, especially in the face of Napoleon’s efforts to blockade the country.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Guard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guard. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

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