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

The Heat opted to move forward with filling its roster this week instead of plotting a pursuit of the available veteran free agents, a group including guards D’Angelo Russell, Gabe Vincent and Ryan Nembhard. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026

Head coach Rick Tocchet mentioned afterward that the league had given a heads-up about this push — which focuses on everything from visors to neck guards to, of course, jerseys — a few weeks earlier. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Since then, replacement guards have taken over Parton’s homes in Nashville, as well as her museum and warehouse. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 23 Sep. 2026

Atlanta is sending guards Buddy Hield and Ryan Nembhard and cash considerations to Charlotte, a league source with knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. — Ajc Sports, AJC.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Nelson reported on testimony by guards at two state prisons who said Richard Allen confessed. — Jenny Porter Tilley, IndyStar, 21 Sep. 2026

He was brought to the prison infirmary, where numerous guards surrounded, punched, kicked, choked, dropped and manhandled him. — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 19 Sep. 2026

The drone impacts forced Poland's border guards to temporarily suspend cross-border traffic, evacuate people from vehicles and enhance security. — Anna Noryskiewicz, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026

Place draft guards under doors, make sure exterior doors close tightly and keep doors and unscreened windows closed — especially while sleeping. — The Sacramento Bee Staff, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Verb

Dolphins interior linemen like center Aaron Brewer and guards Kadyn Proctor and Jonah Savaiinaea could get matchups against seven-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Chris Jones. — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026

But neither Knox nor guards Malaki Branham and JD Davison, who both signed an Exhibit 10 with the Magic earlier this month, are eligible to sign a two-way contract. — Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026

Ruggedization protects your drive from the elements, while encryption guards your data should your SSD or HDD be lost or stolen. — George Yang, PC Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026

Anthropic closely guards its training data sources, but music publishers think the court should require more transparency. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026

Liberty guards Marine Johannes and Pauline Astier are both looking forward to the opportunity to represent France during the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup tournament. — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026

Rookie guards Tonie Morgan, a former developmental player who signed a standard contract recently, and Chance Gray, the team’s second-round draft pick, both added eight points each. — John W. Davis, Oc Register, 21 Aug. 2026

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