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
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
Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
The Pacers, too, sent wave after wave of bigger stronger guards to push Brunson off his spots and disrupt the Knicks’ flow.
—Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 15 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
Years ago, then-assistant coach Mikie Nardi was asked to rank Brunson in the pantheon of great Villanova guards.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
The tattoo of a Totenkopf, the death’s head emblem associated with Nazi concentration camp guards?
—Megan McArdle, Washington Post, 14 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
Clark had five assists, but turned the ball over six times as Connecticut’s guards, especially Leila Lecan, pressured relentlessly.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 14 June 2026
Best soccer gear These lightweight shin guards are not only reliable but also durable.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2026
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
Of course, that assumes Wembanyama guards Towns.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 2 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
Forgetting also guards your emotional health.
—Gabrielle Principe, The Conversation, 5 May 2026
Noun
Some of the allegations included removing protective plastic guards covering actresses’ vaginas during the filming of intimate scenes, and Franco getting angry when actresses didn’t want to go topless.
—Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
The Pacers, too, sent wave after wave of bigger stronger guards to push Brunson off his spots and disrupt the Knicks’ flow.
—Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 15 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
Years ago, then-assistant coach Mikie Nardi was asked to rank Brunson in the pantheon of great Villanova guards.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
The tattoo of a Totenkopf, the death’s head emblem associated with Nazi concentration camp guards?
—Megan McArdle, Washington Post, 14 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
Clark had five assists, but turned the ball over six times as Connecticut’s guards, especially Leila Lecan, pressured relentlessly.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 14 June 2026
Best soccer gear These lightweight shin guards are not only reliable but also durable.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2026
Verb
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
Of course, that assumes Wembanyama guards Towns.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 2 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
Forgetting also guards your emotional health.
—Gabrielle Principe, The Conversation, 5 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
-
Ready to flaunt those thick locks?—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
16 June 2026
-
The Manchester City striker is six-foot-five, ties his flowing blonde locks in a bun and knocked in a team-high 16 goals to help Norway reach the World Cup for the first time since 1998.—
Julian Cardillo,
Boston Herald,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
The barrage was part of a larger Ukrainian attack over a broad swath of Russia, with air defenses intercepting 555 drones, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense – including over the Sea of Azov.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
-
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russian air defenses destroyed nearly 200 Ukrainian drones on approach to the capital - but acknowledged several had managed to hit the city's main oil refinery for the second time this week.—
Charles Maynes,
NPR,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
Technical writers This job involves translating complex technical information into straightforward, readable guides for users.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
-
Reports can tell you what is happening, but our brand representatives in store—beauty advisors, consultants, artists, and guides—can often tell you why.—
Shivani Vora,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
The Vikings mixed him in with some of the second-team defenders during minicamp.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
Moussouris wrote that the capabilities Fable displayed using the Amazon technique, while potentially useful to attackers, were also vital for cyber defenders.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Clarify terms with a counterpart by putting the agreement in writing and asking the one key question that protects both sides.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
15 June 2026
-
The claim that remote work breeds social isolation is a myth for some; instead, VI believe protects women from an exhausting, artificial stress tax.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 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
Cite this Entry
“Guards.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guards. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
