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
The college currently consists of 11 officers of arms, who undertake the genealogical research and act as custodians of the records.
—
Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026
Obama stopped by the Jackson Park facility to hear personal stories from custodians, security guards, visitor services staffers, and more.
—Todd Feurer, CBS News, 8 June 2026
The forgers of the future have become custodians of an optimistic past.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 4 June 2026
Institutions still need clearinghouses, custodians, reporting systems, market surveillance, and legal accountability.
—Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Preservation of both is foremost in the mindset of its custodians.
—Lauren Keith, Robb Report, 30 May 2026
The Enthoven family refer to themselves as custodians of Spier, an indication of their long-view commitment to their 620-ha parcel of land.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026
From bus drivers and cafeteria workers to counselors, coaches, custodians, paraprofessionals and district staff, every employee plays an important role in helping students succeed.
—Howard Hepburn, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2026
This vision resonated with the leaders of the Gulf states and their citizens, who have increasingly come to see themselves not as mere custodians of oil fields and checkbooks, but as builders of dynamic new economies and societies.
—Daniel Benaim, Time, 18 May 2026
Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026
Obama stopped by the Jackson Park facility to hear personal stories from custodians, security guards, visitor services staffers, and more.
—Todd Feurer, CBS News, 8 June 2026
The forgers of the future have become custodians of an optimistic past.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 4 June 2026
Institutions still need clearinghouses, custodians, reporting systems, market surveillance, and legal accountability.
—Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Preservation of both is foremost in the mindset of its custodians.
—Lauren Keith, Robb Report, 30 May 2026
The Enthoven family refer to themselves as custodians of Spier, an indication of their long-view commitment to their 620-ha parcel of land.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026
From bus drivers and cafeteria workers to counselors, coaches, custodians, paraprofessionals and district staff, every employee plays an important role in helping students succeed.
—Howard Hepburn, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2026
This vision resonated with the leaders of the Gulf states and their citizens, who have increasingly come to see themselves not as mere custodians of oil fields and checkbooks, but as builders of dynamic new economies and societies.
—Daniel Benaim, Time, 18 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for custodians
Noun
-
In early modernity, women were the keepers of this obsessive temporality of attention—of the current of time that flows beneath event, beneath change.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
-
Dock at the southern edge of the island and climb the stairs to see the orchards and gardens planted by former lighthouse keepers and tended by the National Park Service today.—
Katherine Lawless,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
Robotic grid guardians Power utilities in southwestern China are using robotic snakes to inspect power lines, showcasing a new approach to infrastructure monitoring in environments where drones face limitations.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
11 June 2026
-
In places where the program is active, parents and legal guardians who are verified riders can create accounts for teens.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
The Vikings mixed him in with some of the second-team defenders during minicamp.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
Moussouris wrote that the capabilities Fable displayed using the Amazon technique, while potentially useful to attackers, were also vital for cyber defenders.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Twice a month, students, janitors, security guards and other school staff can come get a full bag of produce.—
Chris Wragge,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
-
In 1952, the Sherskys closed Three Feathers and Q was left roaming Knoxville, selling to schoolteachers, promoters, and even janitors.—
Jonathan Rowe,
SPIN,
1 June 2026
Noun
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Some of the allegations included removing protective plastic guards covering actresses’ vaginas during the filming of intimate scenes, and Franco getting angry when actresses didn’t want to go topless.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
-
The Pacers, too, sent wave after wave of bigger stronger guards to push Brunson off his spots and disrupt the Knicks’ flow.—
Sean Woods,
Rolling Stone,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
The first dogs served as early-warning systems, protectors, and hunting buddies.—
Shoshi Parks,
Popular Science,
10 June 2026
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The Thunder’s perimeter defense sometimes feels impenetrable and is anchored on the back line by Chet Holmgren, one of the best rim protectors in basketball.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
For this reason, healthcare providers and family members or other caretakers are the most likely to contract it.—
Dr. Sanjay Gupta,
CNN Money,
6 June 2026
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This knowledge could help Ötzi’s caretakers keep the body well preserved into the future and enable other researchers to do the same for other frozen biological discoveries.—
Adam Kovac,
Scientific American,
3 June 2026
Noun
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The juvenile bear’s wander across campus late Thursday and early Friday prompted an advisory to students and a search by UC Davis police and wardens from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife as well as Yolo County Animal Control.—
Allison Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
15 May 2026
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The state wardens and other cops who knew and worked with Bob Markle weren’t just honoring his memory by attending his funeral.—
Dave Duffey,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Custodians.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/custodians. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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