GUARDIANS Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

guardians

noun

plural of guardian

as in custodians

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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as in keepers

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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as in defenders

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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as in caregivers

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 guardians As families prepare for the first day of classes, parents and guardians are gathering school supplies, arranging carpools and figuring out how their children will get to and from school. — Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 17 Aug. 2026 Parents are naming guardians for their children in case they are detained or deported, while others have stopped working, shopping or even leaving home, relying instead on neighbors and churches. — Maria Santana, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026 The law requires districts developing their policies to obtain input from teachers’ representatives, administrators and parents or guardians. — Kavin Bendre, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 The legislation calls for children who need to contact their parents or guardians to use a school phone. — Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2026 Merriweather and other leaders previously said the reason for lack of information was to ensure Moody’s former guardians could stand a fair trial. — Charlotte Observer, 11 Aug. 2026 Once an account is established, parents, guardians, grandparents and others can contribute up to $5,000 per year until the year before the beneficiary turns 18. — Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 11 Aug. 2026 The confederations are presenting themselves not as rivals attempting to weaken FIFA, but as guardians of a collective system. — Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Nine students, represented by their guardians, along with four nonprofit groups, have sued Massachusetts, saying the commonwealth had denied schoolchildren the right to an adequate education and to equal protection under the law. — Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for guardians

Noun

Zuckerberg is referencing OpenAI and Anthropic, which operate on the premise that hyper-smart AI is both inevitable and apocalyptic—and therefore safe only in the hands of the wisest custodians (themselves).

— Will Oremus, The Atlantic, 12 Aug. 2026
Two school custodians have been found shot dead in a Chicago elementary school, according to Chicago ABC station WLS.

— David Brennan, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of custodians

Noun

Our three children grew up as his caregivers too, the way so many kids in these homes quietly do.

— Vanessa Chism, Baltimore Sun, 23 Aug. 2026
Our Kids’ Climate (OKC) supports parents, grandparents and caregivers in over 50 countries to take action to protect children from the impact of the climate crisis.

— Catarina Rolfsdotter-Jansson, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of caregivers

Noun

Police reinforcements were called late Saturday to the temporary accommodation center for asylum seekers in Sintiki, a few kilometers (miles) from the Bulgarian border, after migrants threw rocks at guards, according to police.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Parents will be dropping off students, children will be navigating new routes, and nearly 250 city crossing guards will be out each day to help families cross safely.

— Andrew Adeolu, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of guards

Noun

Some turned on her caretakers, demanding more updates and accusing them of withholding information.

— Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Yee decided her favorite nook was the Picture Room, where the museum’s caretakers unveiled Soane’s choicest paintings stowed behind clandestine folding panes.

— Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of caretakers

Noun

Minimal Phone will also throw in $100 worth of accessories, including a case, screen protectors, and a 27W fast charger.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Aug. 2026
Layered on top is rhetoric, from the highest levels of government, that casts career scientists as adversaries rather than protectors.

— Daniel Jernigan, STAT, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of protectors

Noun

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
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department — Game wardens, rescue boat teams and helicopters with hoist capability to assist with water rescues.

— Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 14 July 2026