guard 1 of 2

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2
as in defensive
a position of readiness to oppose actual or expected attack be on your guard against snakes in the swamp

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in lock
a protective device (as on a weapon) to prevent accidental operation slid the guard into place over the chainsaw chain

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
5
as in guide
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 & Similar Words

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guard

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word guard different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of guard are defend, protect, safeguard, and shield. While all these words mean "to keep secure from danger or against attack," guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger.

White House entrances are well guarded

In what contexts can defend take the place of guard?

The words defend and guard are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.

defend the country

When can protect be used instead of guard?

While the synonyms protect and guard are close in meaning, 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

Where would safeguard be a reasonable alternative to guard?

In some situations, the words safeguard and guard are roughly equivalent. However, safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger.

our civil liberties must be safeguarded

When is shield a more appropriate choice than guard?

The words shield and guard can be used in similar contexts, but shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack.

shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of guard
Noun
And then the intention was that the guards were going to put that box of marbles through the window of the doors of everybody's room. Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Nov. 2025 Zion Johnson is the Chargers’ starter at left guard. Daniel Popper, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
The job of guarding the opposition’s top offensive threat usually goes to Nelson. Glae Thien, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Nov. 2025 Early on, federal agents guarding the building deployed tear gas and shot pepper balls in clashes with protesters and arrested some of them, including some charged with felonies on suspicion of assaulting or blocking officers. Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for guard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guard
Noun
  • The United States has traditionally acted as the guardian of this system.
    John Kerry, semafor.com, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Kids aged 7 to 18 can also walk in for the shot without a prescription, as long as a parent or guardian gives consent and talks it over with the pharmacist.
    Evan Moore November 5, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The sounds and images of heavy construction equipment ripping apart one of the most historic places in the United States, though, have put the White House on the defensive.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Zelenskyy, who is expected to push for more military support, including long-range Tomahawk missiles that could be used to strike deep inside Russia, said the talks showed Putin was on the defensive.
    Henry Austin, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Also, the child safety lock is a feature that parents (and pet parents) will enjoy.
    Terri Williams, Architectural Digest, 3 Nov. 2025
  • The macaques were secured by three gates, each fastened by two sets of locks and latches.
    Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Australia’s hypersonic ambition Hypersonic flight, defined as speeds exceeding Mach 5, has become one of the most strategically important frontiers in aerospace and defense.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2025
  • The Justice Department, in its defense of the tariffs, has highlighted the expansive way Trump has used them, arguing that the trade penalties are part of his power over foreign affairs, an area where the courts should not second-guess the president.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 3 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • This watch guide was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
    Data Skrive, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • For a more traditional bar experience, take a look at our etiquette guide to British pubs.
    Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Heat’s new-look offense relies on players getting by their defender and into the paint without the help of a screen.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Scott’s play speed jumped off the tape as a downhill defender, especially when the Hurricanes brought him as a blitzer.
    Dane Brugler, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • This warranty gives homeowners confidence that their investment is protected and that the company is committed to long-term results.
    Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Prices start at $57 At minimum, an area rug’s job is to protect your floors from scratches, spills, and scuffs, but this particular style holds so much more importance in terms of adding decor, texture, and color to a space — just ask Joanna Gaines.
    Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • To test if this really was a White House operation, Grace and I followed one of the trucks out of the golf course, past the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, to a path that normally leads to the White House but was blockaded.
    Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Britain was France’s most persistent opponent and was determined to control the seas, especially in the face of Napoleon’s efforts to blockade the country.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Guard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guard. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.

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