1
2
as in guardian
a person or group that watches over someone or something
served as custodian of the prisoner until he could be turned over to federal authorities
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in defender
someone that protects
we must regard ourselves as custodians of the Earth so that its natural resources may be enjoyed by many generations to come
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 custodian
Bessette refused the profile at Vogue or Harper’s; the custodians do not have a lot of material to work with.
—
Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2026
More than 400 positions will be eliminated across multiple departments, including teachers, special education aides, counselors and custodians.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 13 Feb. 2026
Gustavo began as a custodian, became an elementary school’s lead custodian and rose to custodial operations supervisor for Poway Unified School District.
—Jan Goldsmith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Feb. 2026
But thanks to the school’s longtime chief custodian, Eugene Reyna, all that has changed.
—Janice Neumann, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for custodian
Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2026
More than 400 positions will be eliminated across multiple departments, including teachers, special education aides, counselors and custodians.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 13 Feb. 2026
Gustavo began as a custodian, became an elementary school’s lead custodian and rose to custodial operations supervisor for Poway Unified School District.
—Jan Goldsmith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Feb. 2026
But thanks to the school’s longtime chief custodian, Eugene Reyna, all that has changed.
—Janice Neumann, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for custodian
Recent Examples of Synonyms for custodian
Noun
-
Other record keepers are warming up to the private markets push, according to people familiar with their thinking.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Slightly spicy and spiked with dill, these Fried Deviled Eggs are a keeper.—
Nellah Bailey McGough,
Southern Living,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
And so the city was exposed to future hurricanes, and lost the living guardians whose roots held the land in place.—
Melina Walling,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Investigators determined Colgrove was the legal guardian for her 4-year-old grandson.—
Elissa Jorgensen,
Dallas Morning News,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In a first-half highlight, Phoebe Dummer stole the ball at mid-poll and outraced two defenders to score for a 4-1 lead with 27 seconds left.—
Glae Thien,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Williams showed off her impressive shot making with multiple pull-up jumpers over defenders while Miles got downhill to get TCU back in the game.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
When a production crew arrives to film an alien invasion movie on the crumbling backlot, the janitor decides to vanish alongside the studio itself.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Asked about the City Hall janitor layoffs at an unrelated Tuesday news conference, Johnson pointed to the forceful demands by his City Council opponents for even steeper cuts during budget negotiations.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
That number is in line with reporting from the Indiana Capital Chronicle, which interviewed the prison's warden, Brian English, during a tour of the detention center late last year.—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The newest season showed Renner's character Mike McLusky confronting a gang war and contending with a headstrong new warden, played by Falco.—
Madeline Bartos,
CBS News,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
After Miles Killebrew’s injury, Peppers served as the personal protector on the punt team.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Your desire to be a protector is probably very powerful!—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
After spending her childhood as a caretaker for her mentally unwell mother, Annie perseveres, getting to her third year of medical school before a mental breakdown forces her to withdraw.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Here, human caretakers will put them on a weight-gaining diet so they can be released in tip-top condition in a year.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Especially after reinserting Skyy Clark into a starting lineup, which, barring injuries, will feature three guards – including Dent and sophomore Trent Perry – the rest of the season.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Tempers flared in the second quarter when Cunningham was called for an offensive foul after extending his arms and knocking down Spurs guard Stephon Castle.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Custodian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/custodian. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
