guardian

noun

ˈgär-dē-ən How to pronounce guardian (audio)
Definition of guardiannext
1
as in custodian
a person or group that watches over someone or something the state became his guardian when he was put into protective custody

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2
as in keeper
a person who takes care of a property sometimes for an absent owner the guardians of the summer estate awaited the return of the tycoon

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3
as in protector
someone that protects the editor defended his newspaper's unrelenting exposure of government corruption, arguing that it is journalism's role to act as a guardian of democracy

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4
as in caregiver
a person who has responsibility for the care of another when her parents died, her aunt became her legal guardian

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 guardian Officers attempted to press charges against Dudzinski’s legal guardian for allowing unlicensed and uninsured driving. — Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026 The Austrian government has said the best use for the building would be the presence of the police as guardians of civil liberties. — ABC News, 22 July 2026 In California, petitioners must be at least 18 years old to file; otherwise, a petition may be filed on their behalf by a parent, near relative, or guardian. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 July 2026 Wendy Williams’ guardian has settled the lawsuit over Lifetime’s Where Is Wendy Williams? — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for guardian
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guardian
  1. custodian
  2. keeper
  3. protector
  4. caregiver
  5. guard
  6. warden
  7. defender
  8. caretaker
Noun
  • This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA’s duty as the custodian of world football.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 30 July 2026
  • While custodians often calculate RMDs, taxpayers should verify these amounts, as errors can still lead to IRS penalties.
    — Bob Carlson, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of custodian
Noun
  • Notably, this goals-prevented metric doesn’t account for the different number of shots a ’keeper faces.
    — Beren Cross, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • Contrary to a popular myth, bees are indifferent to their keepers.
    — Richard Schiffman, Christian Science Monitor, 22 July 2026
Definition of keeper
Noun
  • Linn said dogs were often seen in the Bronze Age and mythology as protectors, often guarding the house.
    — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 24 July 2026
  • Its traditional protector has been exposed as fickle and weak.
    — David Frum, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
Definition of protector
Noun
  • Seventy percent of the workforce are caregivers of children, elders, people with disabilities, or others.
    — Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The finished space could be rented out, or a future caregiver could live there.
    — Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of caregiver
Noun
  • Spanish civil guard ships continued searching for bodies in the waters near the stretch of urban beach that tens of thousand of migrants had breached days earlier.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The Sparks reportedly agreed to trade All-Star guard Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday night, ending a brief stint in Los Angeles as the franchise continues its rebuild ahead of the WNBA trade deadline.
    — Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of guard
Noun
  • Speculation continues about why the Westmoreland County Prison warden was placed on leave around the same time the prison went on lockdown.
    — Erika Stanish, CBS News, 29 July 2026
  • The encounter fortunately ended without anyone being injured, but Parks Canada wardens were able to identify the hikers after the video was posted online and racked up millions of views.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2026
Definition of warden
Noun
  • His development as a front-footed defender is a valuable asset.
    — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • And what happens next should concern attackers and defenders alike.
    — Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of defender
Noun
  • Strong new work presents legacy musicians as active artists relevant to a new generation of listeners, rather than as caretakers of famous music libraries.
    — David Deal, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Along with his legislative role, Anderson is a full-time caretaker for a disabled parent.
    — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026
Definition of caretaker

Phrases Containing guardian

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guardhouses
guardian
guardian angel
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Cite this Entry

“Guardian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guardian. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on guardian

Nglish: Translation of guardian for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about guardian

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