as in janitors
a person who tends a door
those who are hopelessly unhip have little chance of making past the club's gatekeeper and his velvet rope
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Recent Examples of gatekeepers
Ankles are the unsung gatekeepers of healthy movement, and unlocking their mobility can relieve tension throughout your body.
—
Dana Santas, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Since its launch in 2022, the league has faced stiff resistance from golf’s traditional gatekeepers.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
The gates are open; the gatekeepers just haven’t noticed.
—Bob Bonniol, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2025
Before, Singh said, citywide politicians engaged South Asian and Muslim voters at Hindu Diwali or Islamic Eid celebrations, usually speaking to a few prominent gatekeepers, often religious leaders or business owners.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
Enter Kevin Smith, who knows a thing or two about bypassing gatekeepers.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2025
Many YouTube creators view the studio executives as gatekeepers, the old guard that once held sway over what got made and what didn’t.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2025
As the genres have grown in popularity, the gatekeepers have continued to tighten their parameters — but the truth is, experimentation is what makes rock music in all its forms… rock.
—Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2025
The idea didn’t make it past the gatekeepers; Spain’s federation and FIFA both shot it down.
—Asli Pelit, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Dana Santas, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Since its launch in 2022, the league has faced stiff resistance from golf’s traditional gatekeepers.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
The gates are open; the gatekeepers just haven’t noticed.
—Bob Bonniol, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2025
Before, Singh said, citywide politicians engaged South Asian and Muslim voters at Hindu Diwali or Islamic Eid celebrations, usually speaking to a few prominent gatekeepers, often religious leaders or business owners.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
Enter Kevin Smith, who knows a thing or two about bypassing gatekeepers.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2025
Many YouTube creators view the studio executives as gatekeepers, the old guard that once held sway over what got made and what didn’t.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2025
As the genres have grown in popularity, the gatekeepers have continued to tighten their parameters — but the truth is, experimentation is what makes rock music in all its forms… rock.
—Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2025
The idea didn’t make it past the gatekeepers; Spain’s federation and FIFA both shot it down.
—Asli Pelit, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gatekeepers
Noun
-
The same workers who keep this country running every single day—home care aides, teachers, bus drivers and janitors who can’t afford to get sick.—
Linda Goler Blount,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Think janitors all the way up to the CEOs that make a hospital hum.—
Phil Blair,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Best known as Travelers Rest’s first craft brewery, this spot is a local favorite popular for its world-class selection of beers, with everything from pale ales to porters.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Meanwhile, the porters, who'd carried all of the 60 Minutes gear up the mountain, had already made it to Base Camp and were headed back down, on to their next job.—
Cecilia Vega,
CBS News,
22 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gatekeepers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gatekeepers. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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