Definition of custodiannext
1
as in keeper
a person who takes care of a property sometimes for an absent owner the custodian made his usual rounds of the building to make sure that everything was OK

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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

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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

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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 custodian Of the 221 positions being cut — which include paraeducators, assistants, clerks, custodians, special-education staff, food service staff and more — 88 are already vacant, the district said. Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026 Classified employees — or non-teaching staff who support school operations such instructional aids, paraprofessionals, custodians, food service workers and bus drivers — will not hold a collective sympathy strike, although individual members are legally allowed to do so. Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 3 Mar. 2026 Paramount has, in its earliest months under new management, shown itself to be a shaky custodian of its journalism operations at CBS News, and CNN employees fear the deal will bring more of the same to their own independent newsgathering. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026 Winners will serve as island custodians, agreeing to basic stewardship responsibilities while enjoying peace, nature, and nearby local communities. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 25 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for custodian
Recent Examples of Synonyms for custodian
Noun
  • Both keepers had three saves in a scoreless first half.
    Dallas Morning News, Dallas Morning News, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Oh, but the keeper of the gates herself is here tonight, too.
    Danielle Parker, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Teens and guardians can also request women drivers on demand through Uber’s teen accounts.
    Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Authorities of the Taliban's ministry for the prevention of vice and promotion of virtue have, at random times through Afghanistan, imposed one of their rules, which prohibit women and girls from being in public without a male guardian — which can even be a boy.
    Ruchi Kumar, NPR, 9 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Rothrock made a couple touches and, as goalkeeper Daniel crept off his line, slipped a shot past defender Reid Roberts and inside the near post.
    Mercury News, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026
  • In the 66th minute, Ary Borges stepped in front of a Chicago defender, intercepting a pass from goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and slipped the ball into the back of the net.
    Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 16 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The documents also detail the scale of the personnel required to build and manage the temporary lock-up, from janitors to laundry workers to cooks, translators to legal case managers to IT staff.
    Kate Payne, Sun Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2026
  • The audience was previously told that that problem was meant to be incredibly difficult, taking years of expert thinking to resolve, yet it was quickly worked out by Damon’s insightful janitor in just moments.
    Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 1 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Lamont noted that Carlos is already well known to the agency and has years of experience there, having worked as a substance abuse counselor and a warden at York Correctional Institution.
    Emilia Otte, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2026
  • The wardens said the fish was flagged after a metal-detecting wand alerted to the potential presence of a foreign object.
    CBS Texas Staff, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Tiller also made an impact as a rim protector and grabbed four offensive rebounds.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Aya is an alum as well, and her mentor from her own high school days there is Cap, the band leader, who immediately becomes Santi’s protector and mentor too.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Arakawa, 65, who was also his caretaker, died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a disease that affects the lungs.
    Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026
  • Pet nannies aren’t eligible to travel in the cargo hold, although some horse shipping containers have space for a caretaker.
    Zach Wichter, USA Today, 15 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • In these situations, fire watch guards may be assigned to monitor the property when regular staff is unavailable.
    Matthew Kayser, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Smart played his usual smothering defense, doing a very good job in limiting Timberwolves All-Star guard Anthony Edwards to just 14 points on two-for-15 shooting from the field and one-for-10 from three-point range.
    Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Custodian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/custodian. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.

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