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
Two centuries ago, the Litunga (king) turned what had been his private hunting grounds over to his people as custodians.
—
Mazuba Kapambwe, AFAR Media, 10 Sep. 2025
From ETFs pulling in tens of billions to companies adding bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to their balance sheets, demand for trusted custodians is set to accelerate.
—Marie Poteriaieva, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Cloudflare, just like custodians of all web properties, has an affirmative duty to secure the service.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 4 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
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
Mazuba Kapambwe, AFAR Media, 10 Sep. 2025
From ETFs pulling in tens of billions to companies adding bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to their balance sheets, demand for trusted custodians is set to accelerate.
—Marie Poteriaieva, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Cloudflare, just like custodians of all web properties, has an affirmative duty to secure the service.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 4 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
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
-
Are the club following any ‘keepers?—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
-
But first, the top of the rock had to be blasted to make room for the lighthouse keepers’ houses, since there was barely any flat space on the summit (only between 10 and 12 feet).—
A.K. Whitney,
Oc Register,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In 2016, the Mans petitioned to become Natalia’s legal guardians; however, a hearing was required to determine whether Natalia was a minor or a legal adult.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The shop also mentors and trains locals to be guides and guardians of their backyard coastline.—
Terry Ward,
AFAR Media,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Now, with some help from the defenders behind them, Cleveland’s pitchers have paved the way for a last-gasp run at a playoff spot.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
-
The city has become a fortress, and Ukrainian defenders are doing everything possible to prevent it from falling.—
David Kirichenko,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The Teamsters union includes cooks and other food service workers, as well as groundskeepers, janitors, parking attendants, maintenance workers, mechanics and more.—
Emma McNamee,
Twin Cities,
9 Sep. 2025
-
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
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Still, wildlife advocates, caretakers and scientists remain optimistic about the future.—
John Leos,
AZCentral.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Game wardens responded to the scene and fatally shot the animal, officials said.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
15 Sep. 2025
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Custodians.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/custodians. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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