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
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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Recent Examples of guardian
Virginia will limit the amount of time children under age 16 can spend on social media to an hour per day (per platform, unless a parent or guardian allows for more screen time).
—
Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 1 Jan. 2026
His guardian describes him as happy, active, intelligent, talkative, caring, protective, tall for his age.
—Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 23 Dec. 2025
Both are guardians, both are thieves.
—Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 22 Dec. 2025
The suspects were released to their parents and guardians.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for guardian
Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 1 Jan. 2026
His guardian describes him as happy, active, intelligent, talkative, caring, protective, tall for his age.
—Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 23 Dec. 2025
Both are guardians, both are thieves.
—Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 22 Dec. 2025
The suspects were released to their parents and guardians.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for guardian
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guardian
Noun
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Overpayments and underpayments occur when changes to employees’ salaries or benefits occur after the payroll cutoff date, said Bismarck Obando, a spokesperson for the controller’s office, which is the custodian of the state’s payroll records.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
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Taking Back the Control For a long time, the simplest way for a business to hold digital assets was to trust a third-party custodian.—
K.H. Koehler,
Miami Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Photos, Videos, Journals, and Scrapbooks While old photos, journals, handwritten notes, and other personal archives may not mean much to you at the time, check with family members to see if anyone wants to be the keeper of memories.—
Ashley Poskin,
Martha Stewart,
8 Jan. 2026
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The Marquette kid Kolek — more and more of a keeper, a wonderful old expression used by an old Marquette coach named Al McGuire — had five assists in 14 minutes.—
Mike Lupica,
New York Daily News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Without guardians and stability, Charlie and Molly find an unexpected ally and protector in Ignatius Oliver, and solace at his book shop, The Book Keep, where a book a day keeps the bombs away.—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Nov. 2025
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Dambo’s trolls are forest protectors but in a far more tender way.—
Khadejeh Nikouyeh,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The session is geared toward those who provide unpaid, in-home and community- based services to seniors and adults with Alzheimer’s or related disorders and for adults 55 and older who are the primary caregivers for children who live with them, according to a news release.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
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Encourage open conversations with family members or caregivers if chatbot use becomes frequent or isolating.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Sports Equipment While the dishwasher isn't ideal for cleaning baseball caps, uniforms, or equipment heavily-coated with mud, a trip through a dishwasher cycle is ideal to remove bacteria and odors from mouth guards and hard plastic shin guards.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
9 Jan. 2026
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The Hurricanes were without guard Gal Raviv, who is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The newest season showed Renner's character Mike McLusky confronting a gang war and contending with a headstrong new warden, played by Falco.—
Madeline Bartos,
CBS News,
5 Jan. 2026
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Meanwhile, Nina Hobbs (Edie Falco), the season's new warden, is collapsing under the weight of her debt to the Colombians, who've forced her into doing their dirty work.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The biggest ovation of the night came when Keon Ellis, who has fallen out of the rotation despite being one of the team’s best defenders and 3-point shooters, entered the game for the first time at the start of the fourth quarter.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
10 Nov. 2025
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Last season’s Most Improved Player was the primary defender on Dončić, who was held to 22 points on 7-of-17 shooting from the field in 27 minutes.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Many are parents, caretakers or full-time employees juggling classes, jobs and family responsibilities.—
Robert Moreno,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
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Investigators identified Cowens as the caretaker of 59-year-old Richard McClintic.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Guardian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guardian. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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