Synonyms of guards

guards 1 of 2

noun

plural of guard

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

• wardens
• custodians
• keepers
• guardians
• sentinels
• bodyguards
• sentries
• warders
• patrols
• pickets
• watchmen
• defenders
• watches
• watchers
• observers
• minders
• lookouts
• escorts
• spotters
• convoys
• watchdogs
• gatekeepers
• surveillants
• honor guards
• hacks

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

• defensives
• lookouts
• watches
• alerts
• qui vives

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• offensives

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

• locks
• shields
• safeties
• defenses
• safeguards
• protections
• fail-safes

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

• defenses
• safeguards
• shields
• protections
• walls
• ammunitions
• weapons
• screens
• wards
• securities
• bucklers
• armors
• armaments
• covers
• arms
• munitions
• fortresses
• aegises
• forts
• strongholds
• palisades
• weaponries

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• attacks
• offenses
• assaults
• aggressions
• offensives

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

• guides
• attendants
• escorts
• companions
• leaders
• shadows
• pilots
• squires
• conductors
• convoys
• sidekicks
• chaperones
• couriers
• outriders
• honor guards

6

as in defenders

someone that protects

a battalion of burly guards surrounding the celebrity

Synonyms & Similar Words

• defenders
• guardians
• protectors
• custodians
• bodyguards
• protections
• guardian angels
• keepers
• sentries
• champions
• warders
• sentinels
• wardens
• watchmen
• watches
• preservers
• watchdogs
• savers
• lookouts
• harborers
• conservers

guards

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of guard

1

as in protects

to drive danger or attack away from

guard the quarterback so he doesn't get sacked

Synonyms & Similar Words

• protects
• defends
• shields
• safeguards
• fences
• wards
• fends
• keeps
• screens
• bulwarks
• secures
• prevents
• saves
• forfends
• covers
• stands up for
• resists
• wars
• walls
• preserves
• opposes
• withstands
• fights
• averts
• conserves
• contends
• battles
• buffers
• pickets
• palisades

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• attacks
• assaults
• assails
• storms
• overruns
• bombards
• submits
• besets
• yields
• besieges
• caves
• capitulates

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

• blockades
• gates
• barricades
• locks
• bars
• walls (off)
• blocks (off)
• closes (off)
• fences
• obstructs
• curtains (off)
• hedges
• dikes
• screens (off)
• bolts

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• opens
• unbars
• reopens
• unbolts
• unblocks

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of guards

Noun

Former detainees held at Camp East Montana detailed consistent abuses by guards in interviews with the USA TODAY Network, echoing allegations raised in the lawsuit. —Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 9 June 2026

After seven months, Rohde and his interpreter escaped a compound where they were being kept by waiting for the guards to sleep and then using a rope to scale down the wall. —Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 9 June 2026

Campos died after he was restrained by guards and an outside autopsy report ruled the death a homicide due to asphyxia. —Michael Biesecker, Fortune, 9 June 2026

Best soccer gear These lightweight shin guards are not only reliable but also durable. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2026

Growing up spending lots of time in Australia, rash guards (aka rashis) were part of the uniform. —Madeleine Schulz, Vogue, 8 June 2026

Armed guards patrolled federal buildings; machine-gun-toting snipers perched on rooftops. —Sarita Gupta, Time, 2 June 2026

Prior to that, a different company provided armed guards while PSS provided unarmed guards for a couple of years. —Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 2 June 2026

Isaiah Johnson was one of the most talented guards available in the portal. —Cj Moore june 2, New York Times, 2 June 2026

Verb

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

Last night, guards De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper combined to score only 14 points on 5-of-20 shooting. —Tim Rohan, NBC news, 27 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