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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 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 Walter Boys centers on city teen Jackie (Nikki Rodriguez) relocating to a small town to live with her new guardians and family friends after losing her parents and sister in an accident. — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2026 The government has been required by law for decades to protect migrant children who are in the country illegally without guardians, over fears they could be exploited, abused or trafficked. — Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, NPR, 5 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

Thompson has proven that so far in Chargers training camp, sprinting around defenders and maximizing his 5-foot-9, 170-pound frame in passing drills.

— Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
Similar technologies will increasingly allow defenders to hunt vulnerabilities, test controls and respond to attacks at machine speed.

— Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of defenders

Noun

Parents and caregivers often feel pressure to pack the perfect lunch.

— Sierra Leone Starks, Parents, 10 Aug. 2026
During our chat, Whitney showed me how accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are creating new housing opportunities for aging parents, adult children, caregivers, renters, and even for multigenerational families.

— Katie Goar, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of caregivers

Noun

Window has window guards, building super says The building superintendent later confirmed that the window in question on the fifth floor has window guards, which are safety devices for windows made to prevent children from falling out.

— Naveen Dhaliwal, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
To punish and sustain Helaena, Rhaenyra has guards shovel lukewarm gruel down her throat.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of guards

Noun

Aibel was among the caretakers who joined the more than 1,200-pound animals on their journey from Marineland.

— Jared Ochacher, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
People call Ebola a disease of compassion because the people that are the caretakers often are the ones that get infected and die from it.

— Adam Harris, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of caretakers

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