GUARDS Synonyms: 130 Similar and Opposite Words

guards 1 of 2

noun

plural of guard

as in wardens

a person or group that watches over someone or something checked in with the security guard at the gate

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as in defensives

a position of readiness to oppose actual or expected attack be on your guard against snakes in the swamp

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offensives

as in locks

a protective device (as on a weapon) to prevent accidental operation slid the guard into place over the chainsaw chain

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as in defenses

means or method of defending the boxer's sparring partner managed to get a blow in under his left guard

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as in guides

one that accompanies another for protection, guidance, or as a courtesy the honor guards raised their sabers as the happy couple descended the church steps

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as in defenders

someone that protects a battalion of burly guards surrounding the celebrity

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guards

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of guard

as in protects

to drive danger or attack away from guard the quarterback so he doesn't get sacked

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as in blockades

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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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 guards

Noun

While rookie right tackle Monroe Freeling held up pretty well, Panthers reserve guards Chandler Zavala and Brady Christensen got beaten up inside. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 16 Aug. 2026 McEnroe’s testimony is particularly important, Sullivan explained, because while some of the other eyewitnesses were MSG guards or had been employed by MSG at some point, McEnroe had no such ties to the defendant. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 15 Aug. 2026 Carolina also held out both starting guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis. — ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026 Josh Priebe and former Packers defensive lineman James Ester were the second-team guards, joined on that unit by left tackle Gottlieb Ayedze, right tackle Charlie Heck and center Andrew Meyer, who led the Dolphins in offensive snaps with 37. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2026 During the visit, guards saw Randall try to pass a blue balloon to her son, a deputy probation officer wrote in the report. — Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026 Analyzing guards in a preseason game is a chore, so at least keep an eye on who’s getting action there. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026 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

Verb

Hal Jordan is the chief Green Lantern of planet Earth at this time, part of an intergalactic policing organization that guards sectors of the cosmos. — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Aug. 2026 Meanwhile, on the neighboring field, Purdy had finished his initial reps by the time the 49ers’ offense, particularly guards Robert Jones and Dominick Puni, got into a scrum with the Titans. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026 Shrine guards flick sticks with ostrich feathers at female pilgrims lingering too long in the shade to try to keep the flow of people moving. — Jane Arraf, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026 The caterpillar even guards the wasp’s cocoons before eventually dying. — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 6 Aug. 2026 There’s this belief in the NFL that the more a player thinks about injuries, guards themselves to prevent them, the more they are destined to happen. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026 The first encounter with water comes at the opening par three 4th hole, where a small pond guards the front of the green. — Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 According to Perseus Digital Library, which translates Greek and Roman mythology to English, some writers refer to Cerberus as the hound that guards the gates of Hades, where the dog allows people to enter, but never lets them out. — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 24 July 2026 Border Patrol guards entry points near the Rio Grande, and Hartman says agents rely on technology to detect movement inside the underground network. — Brooke Taylor, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for guards

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

Definition of wardens

Noun

Such a move would mark a significant expansion of Moscow and Pyongyang’s military cooperation and comes as Ukraine is running painfully short of air defenses.

— Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
The United States has about 28,500 forces stationed in South Korea to bolster the country's defenses — a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty.

— CBS News, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of defenses

Noun

Scaling Bike Tourism With A Family-First Mentality Today, the company employs between 20 and 30 full-time staff, depending on the season, along with 75 local guides in a dozen countries.

— Brianna Randall, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
The roughly 15,000 outﬁtters and guides under permit on federal lands typically are very small businesses that depend on steady bookings.

— Nancy Forster-Holt, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of guides

Noun

Moroz is a big winger with a high skill level who is often able to beat pro defenders with his one-on-one play.

— Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Different UAVs could handle deception, electronic warfare, or attack missions, making defenders deal with several types of threats in the air.

— Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of defenders

Verb

The indiscriminate nature of the data collection, Garvie says, also raises concerns that the cameras violate the Fourth Amendment, which protects people from being searched unreasonably.

— Meg Anderson, NPR, 21 Aug. 2026
One dose of measles vaccine protects most people from the disease, but two doses are recommended to improve effectiveness.

— Kathryn H. Jacobsen, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of protects

Verb

There's no question that the United States has a credible threat of force, but the blockade really blockades ourselves as well as Iran.

— ABC News, ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
As the United States military blockades the Strait of Hormuz fuel prices rose above $100 dollars a barrel.

— Contessa Brewer,Dawn Giel, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026