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 Two of the lawyers for Joshua, now 16, at the Law Brothers denied an interview request for the teen and his guardian, citing privacy and his ongoing recovery. — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 What parents can do Whether or not Pennsylvania’s bell-to-bell ban bill becomes law, parents and guardians remain central to helping children develop healthy phone habits and communication skills. — Elizabeth Dowdell, The Conversation, 6 July 2026 This winning series captures a row of poplar trees planted along the banks of the River Po in Italy, which are natural guardians against flooding, now standing immersed in perfectly still water beneath soft, diffused light. — Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 If the child is not eligible for the $1,000 federal pilot contribution, then that individual may be a parent, legal guardian, adult sibling or grandparent. — Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 4 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
  • The business solution provider, on the other hand, acts as the logical custodian of critical processes.
    — Vicente Pava, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Williams has never lacked interpreters, custodians, handlers, or rescuers with pruning shears.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 June 2026
Definition of custodian
Noun
  • Norwegian keeper Orjan Nyland dove to his left to stop Guimarães’ attempt, Brazil’s first unsuccessful World Cup penalty shot, not including shootouts, since 1986.
    — Sean Gregory, Time, 6 July 2026
  • The best opportunity for Portugal came through Nuno Mendes, whose deflected shot rocketed off the crossbar after cleanly beating Spanish keeper Unai Simón.
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of keeper
Noun
  • Civic duty My family believed in government, for all its flaws, as a protector of the people.
    — Maureen Dowd, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
  • Defense The primary reason the Lakers likely chose Kessler over offering a max deal to Detroit Pistons restricted free agent Jalen Duren is that Kessler is one of the NBA’s best rim protectors.
    — Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of protector
Noun
  • Long-term care industry leaders say caregivers with the necessary skills cannot be retained for the wages companies are willing to pay.
    — Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 5 July 2026
  • Venus, our planet of harmony, ventures into the fields of Virgo from July 9 until August 6, and this is a time to be nurturing caregivers in our relationships.
    — Kyle Thomas, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026
Definition of caregiver
Noun
  • Former Houston standout guard Kingston Flemings hit a deep jumper — his toe was ruled on the 3-point line — with three seconds left in OT, slicing Utah’s lead to one, 100-99.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 5 July 2026
  • Tempers flared late in the fourth quarter when Kings center Dylan Cardwell and Nets guard Egor Demin wrestled for a loose ball.
    — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of guard
Noun
  • Judge McCaslin weighed in on the laptop issue during Monday's hearing, saying that the prison warden would not allow Murdaugh to keep a laptop in his cell due to safety concerns.
    — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026
  • McAndrew served as warden of Florida State Prison in the mid-’90s, when Florida still used the electric chair.
    — Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 30 June 2026
Definition of warden
Noun
  • Norway’s Andreas Schjelderup chipped the ball toward the goal from the left side, and Haaland leaped, swung his neck and headed it into the net, outjumping Brazil’s 6-foot-3 defender Gabriel Magalhães, his Premier League nemesis.
    — Tim Rohan, NBC news, 6 July 2026
  • Before Mbappe scored his penalty, Gustavo Velazquez, the Paraguayan defender, scuffed the penalty spot, another underhanded attempt to disturb the tournament favourites.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of defender
Noun
  • The congregation started to arrive at the usual time, about half an hour before Mass on a recent Saturday afternoon, the old church slowly filling with the descendants and caretakers of a place of great serenity but also great loss.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • Jack Nicholson plays the new caretaker of a remote Colorado hotel in the offseason, bringing his family and hoping to overcome writer's block.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 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 7 Jul. 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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