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guard

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of guard

1 a person or group that watches over someone or something

  • checked in with the security guard at the gate
Synonyms of guard

custodian, guardian, keeper, lookout, minder, picket, sentinel, sentry, warden, warder, watch, watcher, watchman
Words Related to guard

observer, patrol, spotter, surveillant, watchdog

bodyguard, convoy, defender, escort, honor guard

gatekeeper

hack [slang]

2 a position of readiness to oppose actual or expected attack

  • be on your guard against snakes in the swamp
Synonyms of guard

defensive
Words Related to guard

alert, lookout, qui vive, watch
Antonyms of guard

offensive

3 a protective device (as on a weapon) to prevent accidental operation

  • slid the guard into place over the chainsaw chain
Synonyms of guard

safety
Words Related to guard

fail-safe

lock

defense, protection, safeguard, shield

4 means or method of defending

  • the boxerʼs sparring partner managed to get a blow in under his left guard
Synonyms of guard

aegis (also egis), ammunition, armor, buckler, cover, defense, protection, safeguard, screen, security, shield, wall, ward
Words Related to guard

arm, armament, munitions, weapon, weaponry

fastness, fort, fortress, palisade, stronghold
Near Antonyms of guard

aggression, assault, attack, offense (or offence), offensive

5 one that accompanies another for protection, guidance, or as a courtesy

  • the honor guards raised their sabers as the happy couple descended the church steps
Synonyms of guard

attendant, companion, escort, guide
Words Related to guard

chaperone (or chaperon), squire

shadow, sidekick

conductor, leader, pilot

convoy, courier, honor guard, outrider

6 someone that protects

  • a battalion of burly guards surrounding the celebrity
Synonyms of guard

custodian, defender, guardian, guardian angel, protection, protector
Words Related to guard

bodyguard, champion

lookout, sentinel, sentry, warden, warder, watch, watchdog, watchman

conserver, harborer, keeper, preserver, saver

guard

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of guard

1 to drive danger or attack away from

  • guard the quarterback so he doesn't get sacked
Synonyms of guard

bulwark, cover, defend, fence, fend, forfend, keep, protect, safeguard, screen, secure, shield, ward
Words Related to guard

avert, prevent

oppose, resist, withstand

battle, contend, fight, war

conserve, preserve, save

buffer, palisade, picket, wall
Phrases Synonymous with guard

stand up for
Near Antonyms of guard

bombard, storm

beset, besiege, overrun

capitulate, cave, submit, yield
Antonyms of guard

assail, assault, attack

2 to disallow entry into (a place) by means of a physical barrier at the entry point

  • a fire-breathing dragon guarded the entrance to the castle
Synonyms of guard

bar, barricade, block (off), blockade, close (off), wall (off)
Words Related to guard

curtain (off), screen (off)

dike, fence, gate, hedge

bolt, lock

obstruct
Near Antonyms of guard

reopen, unblock, unbolt
Antonyms of guard

open, unbar

Synonym Discussion of guard

defend, protect, shield, guard, safeguard mean to keep secure from danger or against attack. defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.
    • defend the country
protect implies the use of something (such as a covering) as a bar to the admission or impact of what may attack or injure.
    • a hard hat to protect your head
shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack.
    • shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand
guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger.
    • White House entrances are well guarded
safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger.
    • our civil liberties must be safeguarded

Learn More about guard

  1. See words that rhyme with guard Dictionary: Definition of guard Spanish Central: Translation of guard Nglish: Translation of guard for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of guard for Arabic speakers

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