guards 1 of 2

plural of guard
1
2
as in defensives
a position of readiness to oppose actual or expected attack be on your guard against snakes in the swamp

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in locks
a protective device (as on a weapon) to prevent accidental operation slid the guard into place over the chainsaw chain

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
5
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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6

guards

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of guard

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
The 2026 class has been considered one of the deepest and most talented in recent memory, headlined by a quartet of generational one-and-dones as well as explosive guards and elite veteran forwards. Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 24 June 2026 After the top four picks, the draft was considered wide open with a logjam of talented guards. Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2026 After his release from prison, Landor sued the individual prison guards for money damages under a federal law enacted by Congress to protect the religious rights of prisoners. Nina Totenberg, NPR, 23 June 2026 Abruptly, he was stripped of power, escorted out by guards and — in Soviet style — was written out of Columbia’s history. Chet Flippo, Rolling Stone, 23 June 2026 However, there are a lot of good guards in this draft -- Peterson, Acuff, Wagler, Mikel Brown, Brayden Burries. David Troy, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026 Offensive linemen, particularly guards, don’t get the same notoriety as other positions. Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 23 June 2026 But two weeks before Harris accepted the nomination, Israeli media aired footage of guards appearing to rape a Palestinian prisoner. Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026 The pressure extended off the ball too with San Antonio guards denying entry passes to their opponents — especially Brunson. Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 14 June 2026
Verb
The Wolverines signed two other top-50 prospects in forwards Quinn Costello and Lincoln Cosby, plus guards Joseph Hartman and Malachi Brown and center Marcus Moller, a 7-foot-3 prospect from Denmark. Austin Meek, New York Times, 23 June 2026 Trailing 104-97, Knicks guards Jose Alvarado and Brunson answered with back-to-back 3s, cutting the score to 104-103. Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 11 June 2026 Morena Baccarin plays The Sorceress, a mysterious being who guards Greyskull Castle. Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026 Fellow Warriors guards De’Anthony Melton (player option) and Seth Curry could also be on the market, as their team faces an uncertain future of building around Seth’s brother. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 29 May 2026 Cleveland’s offense should wake up at home James Harden and Cavaliers guards Max Strus and Sam Merrill should be more comfortable in their home gym. Geoff Clark Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026 However, former Sparks guards Sykes (7), Mabrey (6), and Nurse (5) combined for 18 points early. John Davis, Daily News, 18 May 2026 Among them, Musselman brought in Aussie stretch big Joshua Hughes from Evansville, wing/forward Jadis Jones from Lindenwood and guards Isaac Bruns from South Dakota and Aaron Hunkin-Claytor from Hawaii. Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guards
Noun
  • The juvenile bear’s wander across campus late Thursday and early Friday prompted an advisory to students and a search by UC Davis police and wardens from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife as well as Yolo County Animal Control.
    Allison Gibson, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2026
  • The state wardens and other cops who knew and worked with Bob Markle weren’t just honoring his memory by attending his funeral.
    Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • There remains a rotation underway – financials over tech , value over growth , defensives over high-beta stocks – simply not enough to hold the indexes harmless.
    Michael Santoli, CNBC, 17 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • The winners of the four primaries are seen as all but locks to win the general election in November, given their heavily Democratic voter populations.
    Dan Mangan, CNBC, 24 June 2026
  • Active prevention One tried and true safety tactic, especially for young children, is placing safeguards that prevent access to dangerous items or situations – for example, installing cabinet locks, stair gates and outlet covers.
    David C. Schwebel, The Conversation, 24 June 2026
Noun
  • Zelensky said in his daily address late Wednesday that Russia is moving more air defenses to the capital as well as to Valdai, a town some 300 miles northwest of Moscow and the site of a residence for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
    Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2026
  • Once relying on its massive missile arsenal, advances in Israeli intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance have neutered its previous strategy of relying on simultaneous barrages of missiles to overwhelm Israeli missile defenses.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 24 June 2026
Noun
  • Several major shipping companies, like Hapag-Lloyd, have used US naval guides to move through the strait – but that offer has not been consistent.
    Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
  • Educators already use it to turn class materials into study guides, flashcards and video files.
    Dan Fitzpatrick, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • The party’s rhetoric, which includes nativism and calling to move on from the shadow of the Holocaust, has ignited allegations of antisemitism from leading Jewish voices in Germany, even as the party and its defenders say its policies are ideal to keep Jews safe.
    Toby Axelrod, Sun Sentinel, 22 June 2026
  • After missing a penalty in the game’s third minute, Messi rebounded with a strike from 15 yards away in the 38th minute and an unreal dodge of multiple Austrian defenders for a second goal in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • That disincentivizes physical attacks (such as cold-boot attacks) and better protects user data.
    Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 22 June 2026
  • Curbing an infectious disease abroad protects health at home, reducing the risk of cross-border transmission and lowering the chance of new, costlier public health threats.
    Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 22 June 2026
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

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Cite this Entry

“Guards.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guards. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.

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