GUARDS Synonyms: 130 Similar and Opposite Words

guards 1 of 2

noun

plural of guard

as in wardens

a person or group that watches over someone or something checked in with the security guard at the gate

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as in defensives

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

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offensives

as in locks

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

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as in defenses

means or method of defending the boxer's sparring partner managed to get a blow in under his left guard

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as in guides

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

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as in defenders

someone that protects a battalion of burly guards surrounding the celebrity

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guards

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of guard

as in protects

to drive danger or attack away from guard the quarterback so he doesn't get sacked

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as in blockades

to disallow entry into (a place) by means of a physical barrier at the entry point a fire-breathing dragon guarded the entrance to the castle

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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 guards

Noun

The Lakers were eliminated by Oklahoma City, who relied on standout performances from young guards Jared McCain and Ajay Mitchell to overcome a quiet series from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and an injury to Jalen Williams. — Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026 Armed guards routinely patrol outside synagogues, Jewish community centers and schools. — John Blake, CNN Money, 5 July 2026 View gallery - 3 images Ancient pharaohs had round-the-clock guards watching their tombs. — New Atlas, 5 July 2026 As for guards, where there are four starters, Howard and Gray were fifth and sixth. — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026 Oliver's mystery character exited a helicopter with black hair, a navy suit and armed guards by his side. — Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026 Later, in response to news reports that the medical examiner planned to rule the death a homicide, a DHS spokesperson said guards had used force to keep him from killing himself. — Perla Trevizo, ProPublica, 3 July 2026 The Warriors’ two candidates to fill this role are guards Will Richard and LJ Cryer. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 3 July 2026 The 2026 class has been considered one of the deepest and most talented in recent memory, headlined by a quartet of generational one-and-dones as well as explosive guards and elite veteran forwards. — Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 24 June 2026

Verb

Angel Reese and Dream guards Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray are among those voted as reserves by the league’s 15 head coaches. — Annie Costabile, New York Times, 8 July 2026 Greenland also guards part of what is known as the GIUK (Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom) Gap, where NATO monitors Russian naval movements in the North Atlantic. — Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026 The device in your pocket that pays for your coffee, unlocks your front door, and holds the second factor that guards everything else. — Ryan Pettit, Time, 7 July 2026 The 6-foot-9 Haugh stretches defenses with his shooting, attacks the rim, thrives in transition and guards multiple positions. — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 June 2026 Trailing 104-97, Knicks guards Jose Alvarado and Brunson answered with back-to-back 3s, cutting the score to 104-103. — Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 11 June 2026 Morena Baccarin plays The Sorceress, a mysterious being who guards Greyskull Castle. — Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026 Fellow Warriors guards De’Anthony Melton (player option) and Seth Curry could also be on the market, as their team faces an uncertain future of building around Seth’s brother. — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 29 May 2026 Cleveland’s offense should wake up at home James Harden and Cavaliers guards Max Strus and Sam Merrill should be more comfortable in their home gym. — Geoff Clark Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for guards

Noun

Exceptions include their use by police officers or animal wardens in an official capacity, at an archery club or paintball gun club, at a public or private range designed for that purpose, or to protect human life or property.

— Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026
There’s also a tiny museum and a house where the island’s wardens live.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 8 July 2026

Definition of wardens

Noun

Authorities also closed the bridges over the nearby Kieldrecht Lock, which is one of two locks that give vessels access to the docks from the Scheldt River, and urged people to avoid the area around MPET’s Quay 1742.

— Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 15 July 2026
At 58 years old, the multihyphenate boasts beautifully luscious, highly covetable locks.

— Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 14 July 2026

Definition of locks

Noun

Jordan’s military said its air defenses intercepted and downed eight Iranian missiles early Thursday local time that were headed toward the country, state media reported.

— Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
Had Marsh taken that step — known in legal parlance as striking Basabe’s affirmative defenses — the jury would have only had to determine monetary damages against Basabe on each count, skipping the step of deciding whether to hold Basabe liable.

— Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026

Definition of defenses

Noun

Vogue Business speaks to a host of industry insiders and career guides on how to be the one who secures it.

— Cami Fateh, Vogue, 15 July 2026
But in the warmer months fly-fishing guides like Teddy Janney of Gallatin River Guides are inundated with visitors seeking to reenact A River Runs Through It.

— Jesse Ashlock, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 July 2026

Definition of guides

Noun

Below, Nico O’Reilly is on the goal line at the far post, away from the eye line of the opposition defenders, who are preoccupied with his team-mates.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Despite handwringing from the powers that be, genre defenders argued that was a literary history behind Sky of Love and its contemporaries.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026

Definition of defenders

Verb

Habeas corpus is a basic legal principle that protects people from being unlawfully detained and the petition allows immigrants like Wilber to challenge the legality of their detention.

— Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Streamline a tricky task with a co-worker, update an invoice, or create a cleaner process that protects your time and self-respect.

— Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 July 2026

Definition of protects

Verb

There's no question that the United States has a credible threat of force, but the blockade really blockades ourselves as well as Iran.

— ABC News, ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
As the United States military blockades the Strait of Hormuz fuel prices rose above $100 dollars a barrel.

— Contessa Brewer,Dawn Giel, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026