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 Parents or legal guardians can enroll eligible children under 18, while adults, including former students, can enroll themselves. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026 How can parents and guardians prepare their children — and themselves — in the days leading up to the time change? — Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026 Play as an ordinary fox who meets a spirit guardian and ends up on the adventure of a lifetime. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026 Parents or guardians of minors could be held responsible for administrative penalties, but could not be held criminally responsible. — Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 27 Oct. 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
  • Two days later, the custodian provided nine documents and forwarded 11 emails from the city clerk.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Rouse said investigators reported the findings to the DA's office in July, and it was later revealed that Paparo was the records custodian for the Chester Police Department.
    — CBS Philadelphia, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of custodian
Noun
  • But just as meaningful - if not more so - is witnessing the increasing volume of players who seem like keepers.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Then the Wildcats raced down the field on only five plays to up it to 14-3, scoring on Chiles' keeper.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of keeper
Noun
  • The 6-foot-7 junior center quickly established herself as one of the nation’s best rim protectors after transferring in from Kentucky last season.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Mixing puppetry, live theater and Indigenous percussion, the production turns familiar bogeymen into protectors while asking audiences to reconsider who — and what — poses the real danger.
    — Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of protector
Noun
  • Trualta, a free platform in Wisconsin that relaunched in 2025 after federal money ran out a year earlier, offers articles, webinars and virtual support groups to family caregivers.
    — Raginee Sudhir Chaurey, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Parents or caregivers who practice covert food restriction, on the other hand, may choose to not buy bags of candy at all in order to encourage more balanced food choices.
    — Bryn Beeder, The Conversation, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of caregiver
Noun
  • And while Proctor’s replacement Jarrett Kingston certainly had a blunder or two, it was left guard Jonah Savaiinaea that gave up a couple sacks.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Yale’s men, picked third in the Ivy League preseason poll, figure to have strong guard play this season and power conference teams are as ever, reluctant to play the dangerous Bulldogs.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of guard
Noun
  • Wasson, by contrast, kicks off by quoting three letters from prisoners in San Quentin, from 1947, addressed to the warden.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Since the story blew up, the warden ordered at least two raids to confiscate anything brought in illegally, TMZ adds.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of warden
Noun
  • Segovia scooped a lofted pass into the penalty area for Messi, who reached it between two defenders but wasn’t in position to send a header goalbound.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Johnson’s 15-yard run in the third quarter, a play during which five Denver defenders had a shot, was a big moment in a touchdown drive.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of defender
Noun
  • There’s also a 5,000-square-foot guesthouse, a caretaker’s residence, and a separate two-bedroom guardhouse.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2026
  • After being Claudia’s full-time caretaker for years until her death in 2024 at age 96, Young relocated back to Santa Barbara and cultivated his social media audience by sharing insights into the music business.
    — Kyle Eustice, VIBE.com, 21 Oct. 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 3 Nov. 2026.

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