1
as in wardens
a person or group that watches over someone or something
checked in with the security guard at the gate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
as in defenses
means or method of defending
the boxer's sparring partner managed to get a blow in under his left guard
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in defenders
someone that protects
a battalion of burly guards surrounding the celebrity
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in protects
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 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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of guards
Dan Woike, New York Times, 12 May 2026
Ross described strict rules and constant shouting from guards and condescending treatment at the detention facility in Louisiana.
—Jade Le Deley, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Masked guards stood outside entry gates to the processing complex, which sprawled across several blocks in an industrial port area.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
Roxy x Juicy Couture will launch a 25-piece collection Wednesday, featuring bikinis, rash guards, bucket hats, platform flip-flops, tracksuits and board shorts.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
Folkston, which has taken about 1,000 people arrested in North Carolina, reported 29 times guards used force, according to a Charlotte Observer review of the Post’s data.
—Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 11 May 2026
Harper and Fox each scored 24 points and Stephon Castle added 20 as the Spurs guards unflinchingly took the baton from their 7-foot-4 superstar and turned the rest of the night into a midrange clinic with an array of pull-up jumpers in and around the paint.
—CBS News, 11 May 2026
The guards refused to answer questions.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 11 May 2026
Categories covered by this author include home warranty, gutter guards, pest control, mattresses, roofing, car warranty, home insurance, car insurance, weight loss and hair loss.
—Alora Bopray, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
Rookie guards Ta’Niya Latson, Chance Gray and Jihyun Park also made the final 12-player roster.
—John Davis, Daily News, 9 May 2026
Forgetting also guards your emotional health.
—Gabrielle Principe, The Conversation, 5 May 2026
The property got its start as a villa and still guards that intimate, private feel while providing thoughtful hotel amenities like a gym, a yoga deck, and in-room spa services.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2026
Washington might consider restoring the Fulbright Program, and work on better coordination between the US State Department, which issues visas, and Homeland Security, which guards entry points.
—Andy Browne, semafor.com, 28 Apr. 2026
In 2019, the height of the rebuild, the Dolphins, who finished 5-11, started five rookies — wide receiver Preston Williams, guards Deiter and Shaq Calhoun, defensive end Wilkins and cornerback Nik Needham.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026
Despite Punch’s departure, TCU was successful in retaining most of its core from the tournament run with All-Big 12 forward Xavier Edmonds, sophomore forward Micah Robinson and guards Brock Harding and Tanner Toolson all announcing their intentions to return to Fort Worth next season.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Apr. 2026
The medication aboard Artemis II is the same as the types found in grocery stores, and features a protective coating that guards it against corrosive stomach acid.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
The best teams built around Dončić have had complementary guards (Jalen Brunson, Kyrie Irving) who could take on playmaking duties for long stretches independently and play off the ball with him.
—Dan Woike, New York Times, 12 May 2026
Ross described strict rules and constant shouting from guards and condescending treatment at the detention facility in Louisiana.
—Jade Le Deley, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Masked guards stood outside entry gates to the processing complex, which sprawled across several blocks in an industrial port area.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
Roxy x Juicy Couture will launch a 25-piece collection Wednesday, featuring bikinis, rash guards, bucket hats, platform flip-flops, tracksuits and board shorts.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
Folkston, which has taken about 1,000 people arrested in North Carolina, reported 29 times guards used force, according to a Charlotte Observer review of the Post’s data.
—Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 11 May 2026
Harper and Fox each scored 24 points and Stephon Castle added 20 as the Spurs guards unflinchingly took the baton from their 7-foot-4 superstar and turned the rest of the night into a midrange clinic with an array of pull-up jumpers in and around the paint.
—CBS News, 11 May 2026
The guards refused to answer questions.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 11 May 2026
Categories covered by this author include home warranty, gutter guards, pest control, mattresses, roofing, car warranty, home insurance, car insurance, weight loss and hair loss.
—Alora Bopray, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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
Rookie guards Ta’Niya Latson, Chance Gray and Jihyun Park also made the final 12-player roster.
—John Davis, Daily News, 9 May 2026
Forgetting also guards your emotional health.
—Gabrielle Principe, The Conversation, 5 May 2026
The property got its start as a villa and still guards that intimate, private feel while providing thoughtful hotel amenities like a gym, a yoga deck, and in-room spa services.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2026
Washington might consider restoring the Fulbright Program, and work on better coordination between the US State Department, which issues visas, and Homeland Security, which guards entry points.
—Andy Browne, semafor.com, 28 Apr. 2026
In 2019, the height of the rebuild, the Dolphins, who finished 5-11, started five rookies — wide receiver Preston Williams, guards Deiter and Shaq Calhoun, defensive end Wilkins and cornerback Nik Needham.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026
Despite Punch’s departure, TCU was successful in retaining most of its core from the tournament run with All-Big 12 forward Xavier Edmonds, sophomore forward Micah Robinson and guards Brock Harding and Tanner Toolson all announcing their intentions to return to Fort Worth next season.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Apr. 2026
The medication aboard Artemis II is the same as the types found in grocery stores, and features a protective coating that guards it against corrosive stomach acid.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guards
Noun
-
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
-
Armas said the prison wardens never switched off the lights.—
Manuel Rueda,
NPR,
20 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
-
Someone spurted hair spray on Tate McRae’s long locks.—
Jane Bua,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
-
The influencer wore her hair in a low ponytail, with a few locks gently falling on the sides of her face.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Meyers said protecting against the intrusions is a constant battle and as companies tighten their defenses, operatives will shift tactics.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
-
Conventional missile defenses can be expensive and limited in ammunition, while laser systems can continue operating as long as the ship has sufficient electrical power.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Inside, the crowd was impassioned but courteous; even the river guides had tucked in their shirts.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
-
The service Awasi’s personalized one-on-one guiding service works seamlessly in Patagonia, where highly experienced and well-trained guides are with you from pick-up to drop-off.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Global Witness says at least 2,253 land and environmental defenders have been killed or disappeared globally between 2012 and 2024, with Latin America accounting for the vast majority of cases.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 May 2026
-
At times during the Sandy Brondello era, Johannes would flash her offensive firepower, but sometimes be a liability against opposing defenders.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
By planning ahead and putting the right policies in place, Florida and the PSC have created a model that both protects customers and supports responsible economic growth.—
Scott Bores,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2026
-
The group also hopes this pending purchase protects the house from demolition, something the property owner is pushing for even though a previous request to demolish was denied last year.—
Ashley Grams,
CBS News,
11 May 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
Cite this Entry
“Guards.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guards. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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