as in wary
having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble
a guarded man who knew better than to reveal such delicate information guarded actions
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in protected
to drive danger or attack away from
guard the quarterback so he doesn't get sacked
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in blockaded
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of guarded
Emma Fraser and Sophie Brookover, Town & Country, 21 Dec. 2022
The guarded and pessimistic mood that results from this oppression permeates this melodrama, all the way down to its muted color palette.
—Katie Rife, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2022
Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2026
Witcher said that the area where the rip current claimed the lives of two adults was not being guarded with lifeguards.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for guarded
Adjective
After his relationship with Jan (Amy Ryan) ended dramatically, Charles (Steve Martin) is even more guarded with his heart in season two.
—Emma Fraser and Sophie Brookover, Town & Country, 21 Dec. 2022
The guarded and pessimistic mood that results from this oppression permeates this melodrama, all the way down to its muted color palette.
—Katie Rife, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2022
Verb
She’s guarded, gives her co-workers obnoxious nicknames, and is always ready with a snarky comment.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2026
Witcher said that the area where the rip current claimed the lives of two adults was not being guarded with lifeguards.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for guarded
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guarded
Adjective
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The mood on Friday was celebratory yet wary.—
Laura Tillman,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Despite some recent all-time stock market highs, most Americans are wary about investing.—
Emily Guskin,
ABC News,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Nataliia, protected by the walls of her hallway bunker, was mostly unscathed.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Colbert lambasted the dinner hosts, too, suggesting Washington media protected the Bush administration.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Iran war has shaken the world economy by disrupting energy production and shipping, as the key chokepoint, the Strait of Hormuz, remains blockaded.—
Emily Canal,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
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In recent months, the administration has blockaded Cuba’s oil supply at a time the island is undergoing a profound humanitarian crisis.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But that cautious optimism among exiles is tempered by concern they could be cut out.—
Joshua Goodman,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
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The key takeaway is that consumers are cautious, and the execution of early applications of AI in fashion is what’s holding them back right now.—
Amy O’Brien,
Vogue,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Both Hezbollah and Israel have have defended their attacks and claimed that the other has violated the ceasefire.—
Sarah Dean,
NBC news,
25 Apr. 2026
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Nikola Jokic is having the worst playoff series of his career, shooting 12 for 32 and 4 for 14 from 3-point range when defended by Gobert, per ESPN.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The towel-wearing suspect who barricaded himself inside a home amid an intense SWAT standoff following the disappearance of two University of South Florida doctoral students was charged Saturday with two counts of murder.—
Robert McGreevy , Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2026
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During his arrest, Abugharbieh barricaded himself inside a home, requiring a SWAT team and crisis negotiators to respond, the sheriff’s office said.—
Isabel Rosales,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Detecting such tiny numbers of atoms takes time, and the setup requires careful calibration and advanced equipment.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Apr. 2026
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Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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John Deere signed a memorandum of understanding in 2023 that partially addressed those concerns, providing third parties with the technology to diagnose and repair, as long as its intellectual property was safeguarded.—
Caleb Jacobs,
The Drive,
8 Apr. 2026
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Protect Civilian Infrastructure All sides should cease strikes on civilian targets and critical infrastructure, including energy facilities, desalination plants and safeguarded nuclear sites, in line with international humanitarian law.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Guarded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guarded. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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