as in protecting
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as in defense
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in defending
to drive danger or attack away from
guard the quarterback so he doesn't get sacked
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in blockading
to disallow entry into (a place) by means of a physical barrier at the entry point
a fire-breathing dragon guarded the entrance to the castle
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of guarding
Randy Jennings, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026
The internet is obsessed with a giant dog trying to show his guarding skills against an unusual trespasser.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025
Painful stiffness that varies dramatically in intensity based on stress levels, sleep quality or emotional state also suggests protective guarding.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2025
ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
The Founders did not anticipate that lawmakers, instead of jealously guarding their legislative authority, would prefer to leave the president holding the bag in case military action turns out to be unpopular.
—Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2026
Vader tracked the restaurant’s closing auction in hopes of obtaining one of the famous gold horse statues guarding its entrance.
—Idaho Statesman, 3 Mar. 2026
With Herro guarding Durant, Bam Adebayo appeared to force Durant into a turnover after rushing over to provide a double-team.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2026
Amaya McDonald, a 6-2 UT-San Antonio signee, spent the game guarding Jackson, a 6-2 recruit who is rated the 18th-best player in the nation in the Class of 2027.
—Greg Riddle, Dallas Morning News, 2 Mar. 2026
The difficulty in guarding Smith increased with the Knights’ pick-and-rolls.
—Dan Rios, Daily News, 1 Mar. 2026
Dort has long been regarded the primary steward of that philosophy, guarding with particular intensity and earning himself First-Team All-Defense honors in 2024-25.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2026
Among the category winners were stunning photographs including the guns of a Japanese Navy wreck, a female octopus lovingly guarding her eggs and the moment clownfish eggs hatch.
—Jack Guy, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
Noun
Carter’s 6-10 twin towers Jackson and junior Shaqere Kizzee clogged the middle defensively, forcing Kennedale to settle for 3-pointers or difficult jumpers against tight guarding.
—Randy Jennings, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026
The internet is obsessed with a giant dog trying to show his guarding skills against an unusual trespasser.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025
Painful stiffness that varies dramatically in intensity based on stress levels, sleep quality or emotional state also suggests protective guarding.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
In addition to regular forces, thousands of temporary police officers have been deployed, and army troops — generally confined to barracks — are patrolling streets and guarding polling stations.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
The Founders did not anticipate that lawmakers, instead of jealously guarding their legislative authority, would prefer to leave the president holding the bag in case military action turns out to be unpopular.
—Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2026
Vader tracked the restaurant’s closing auction in hopes of obtaining one of the famous gold horse statues guarding its entrance.
—Idaho Statesman, 3 Mar. 2026
With Herro guarding Durant, Bam Adebayo appeared to force Durant into a turnover after rushing over to provide a double-team.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2026
Amaya McDonald, a 6-2 UT-San Antonio signee, spent the game guarding Jackson, a 6-2 recruit who is rated the 18th-best player in the nation in the Class of 2027.
—Greg Riddle, Dallas Morning News, 2 Mar. 2026
The difficulty in guarding Smith increased with the Knights’ pick-and-rolls.
—Dan Rios, Daily News, 1 Mar. 2026
Dort has long been regarded the primary steward of that philosophy, guarding with particular intensity and earning himself First-Team All-Defense honors in 2024-25.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2026
Among the category winners were stunning photographs including the guns of a Japanese Navy wreck, a female octopus lovingly guarding her eggs and the moment clownfish eggs hatch.
—Jack Guy, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guarding
Noun
-
But those two additions should make the Panthers’ defense significantly better coming off an NFC South-winning campaign.—
Mike Kaye
Updated March 9,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Christopher Cann Turkey's Defense Ministry said Monday that NATO air defenses shot down a ballistic missile fired from Iran.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Your quick mind can broker peace between different opinions while still protecting your energy.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The analyst explained that as agentic AI becomes embedded across business operations, companies might prefer security tool consolidation for dealing with cyberattacks, as relying on conventional, fragmented tools may not be effective in protecting autonomous systems.—
TipRanks.com Staff,
CNBC,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Trump last year pardoned several people convicted for blockading clinics.—
Josh Funk,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
-
But our ability to strangle off and keep the chokehold on the Venezuelan regime keeps that fleet blockading Venezuela.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Meanwhile, Australia granted asylum to five members of the Iranian women's soccer team Monday, after demands from human rights organizations, soccer unions and Trump that they be given protection.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The shift risks creating uneven protections, as state offices lack the federal power to threaten schools with funding cuts.—
Collin Binkley,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Inter Miami earned a bye as defending MLS champion.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The defending champions were relentless.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Town officials eventually stopped paying the fee and tribal officials threatened, but ultimately backed away, from barricading the roads again in early 2025.—
Frank Vaisvilas,
jsonline.com,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The long procession of protestors placed prayer ribbons on the fence barricading crowds from the building.—
Ashley Grams,
CBS News,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Huntley is also part of a nearly 100-strong WhatsApp community of Newcastle academy alumni, which is regularly updated by Julie Smith, the safeguarding and wellbeing manager.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Executives and boards need to realize that choices made about the gathering, storing, and safeguarding of data have a direct impact on the risk and reputation of the company.—
Chuck Brooks,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The belts also have an important job in shielding Earth from cosmic radiation, solar storms and solar wind that can be harmful to humans and damage technology.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
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Taking on the escort mission would require putting naval vessels in harm’s way purely for the purpose of shielding oil ships with no obvious strategic advantage for the war itself.—
Phil Mattingly,
CNN Money,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Guarding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guarding. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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