1
as in keepers
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 guardians
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 defenders
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
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Recent Examples of custodians
Cloudflare, just like custodians of all web properties, has an affirmative duty to secure the service.
—
Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 4 Sep. 2025
Shaping Tomorrow’s Cyber Defenses Agentic AI presents a compelling vision for the future of cybersecurity, one in which intelligent agents function as relentless, adaptive custodians, collaborating with human professionals.
—Perry Carpenter, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The fallout grew louder when CPS announced cuts this summer to custodians and crossing guards — two groups of employees represented by SEIU.
—Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
The motion notes the December 2021 payment and identifies potential custodians — Karina, her attorney Chris Wilson, investment broker Jay Devries and Chelsea Savings Bank — so any remaining money can be held while the court decides who should receive it.
—Christina Coulter, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025
The members —who made headlines in 2006 when a number of custodians went on a 17-day hunger strike during their successful push to unionize— are seeking higher pay.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025
RIAs typically hold assets with large custodians like Schwab or Fidelity so there’s no commingling of funds and consumers have a large institution holding the actual funds.
—Ryan Daus, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
Consequently, scholarly publishers, custodians of vast archives of detailed research, have entered into multimillion-dollar licensing agreements with technology companies.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 12 Dec. 2024
Recovered artifacts will be returned to their rightful custodians, the news release said.
—Jordan D. Brown, CNN, 27 Nov. 2024
Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 4 Sep. 2025
Shaping Tomorrow’s Cyber Defenses Agentic AI presents a compelling vision for the future of cybersecurity, one in which intelligent agents function as relentless, adaptive custodians, collaborating with human professionals.
—Perry Carpenter, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The fallout grew louder when CPS announced cuts this summer to custodians and crossing guards — two groups of employees represented by SEIU.
—Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
The motion notes the December 2021 payment and identifies potential custodians — Karina, her attorney Chris Wilson, investment broker Jay Devries and Chelsea Savings Bank — so any remaining money can be held while the court decides who should receive it.
—Christina Coulter, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025
The members —who made headlines in 2006 when a number of custodians went on a 17-day hunger strike during their successful push to unionize— are seeking higher pay.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025
RIAs typically hold assets with large custodians like Schwab or Fidelity so there’s no commingling of funds and consumers have a large institution holding the actual funds.
—Ryan Daus, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
Consequently, scholarly publishers, custodians of vast archives of detailed research, have entered into multimillion-dollar licensing agreements with technology companies.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 12 Dec. 2024
Recovered artifacts will be returned to their rightful custodians, the news release said.
—Jordan D. Brown, CNN, 27 Nov. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for custodians
Noun
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Nordstrom Rack Double Keeper Belt Nordstrom Rack is replete with black belts that won’t break the bank — one of them being this slim leather belt with a gold buckle and two gold keepers, which comes in sizes small to extra large.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
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Battery life is legit long, and the cameras turn everyday snaps into keepers.—
Shubham Yewale,
PC Magazine,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The rest rely on parents or guardians.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
5 Sep. 2025
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The entire nest changes, the child changes and the parents/guardians change.—
Tembi Locke,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Trump’s defenders and critics sparred over whether the signature resembled his own.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Sep. 2025
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Moore attempted to catch a pass from quarterback Caleb Wiliams over the middle of the field, when he was pulled down by defenders.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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And there is good reason companies still employ janitors to sweep floors despite the invention of the Roomba and commercial versions of robotic sweepers like Avidbots’ Neo.—
Will Yakowicz,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
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This includes every level of staffing at local schools, from cafeteria workers to janitors, teachers to playground supervisors.—
Kathy Kristof,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Bolsonaro is under house arrest, surrounded by guards to prevent him from fleeing to a foreign embassy to request asylum.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
10 Sep. 2025
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The latter option is particularly tantalizing because both guards offer valuable skills that could help a playoff hopeful be even more formidable in 2025-26.—
Mat Issa,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The nonprofit has served more than 1,000 Indigenous youths from 20 endangered rivers, with a goal to inspire them to become the next generation of water and river protectors.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
USA Today,
2 Sep. 2025
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Last season, right guard Mike Onwenu and right tackle Morgan Moses graded out positively at Pro Football Focus, while Campbell and Wilson were in college, and Garrett Bradbury ranked among the NFL’s worst pass-protectors among all centers.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
31 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Some researchers argue that this background sense of trust is developed in childhood as a person interacts with caretakers.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
5 Sep. 2025
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Still, wildlife advocates, caretakers and scientists remain optimistic about the future.—
John Leos,
AZCentral.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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As for the bear, two wardens with AGFC responded to the scene and found the animal still in the area.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
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Game wardens responded to the scene and fatally shot the animal, officials said.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Custodians.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/custodians. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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