GUARDS Synonyms: 130 Similar and Opposite Words

guards 1 of 2

noun

plural of guard

as in wardens

a person or group that watches over someone or something checked in with the security guard at the gate

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as in defensives

a position of readiness to oppose actual or expected attack be on your guard against snakes in the swamp

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offensives

as in locks

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

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as in defenses

means or method of defending the boxer's sparring partner managed to get a blow in under his left guard

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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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as in defenders

someone that protects a battalion of burly guards surrounding the celebrity

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guards

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of guard

as in protects

to drive danger or attack away from guard the quarterback so he doesn't get sacked

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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

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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 fan guards inside the walk-in cooler had accumulated dust. — Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026 The original 1971 experiment was conducted by psychology professor Philip Zimbardo, who arbitrarily split volunteers into two groups—inmates and guards—and observed how power corrupted them. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026 The Louvre might want to post extra guards around the Mona Lisa to prepare for her visit. — Molly The Bird, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026 But interior linemen such as guards Kevin Dotson and Steve Avila have remained physically sound. — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 Over the summer, the three star guards talked about the possibility of such moments on the floor together. — Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 15 Oct. 2026 Nevertheless, both Mitchell and Plum present roster-building challenges as smaller guards who need to play alongside a true lead guard. — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026 Another task is making sure all players required to wear helmets in warmups are doing so, along with mandatory neck guards for first-year players. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 Atlanta already had a franchise-record 30-win season behind it and retained a core that included All-Star guards Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard and two-time WNBA champion Jordin Canada. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026

Verb

Along with Adebayo, guards Pelle Larsson (illness) and Dru Smith (right calf strain) weren’t available for the Heat on Wednesday. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026 The router comes with Advanced Router Protection, which guards your router, and a 30-day trial for Netgear Armor Security. — George Yang, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026 Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles received six first-place votes and 40 second-place votes (442 points), while Indiana Fever guards Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark followed with 287 and 212 points, respectively. — Doug Feinberg, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 The Lakers also were without center Walker Kessler (finger), guards Austin Reaves (ankle) and Collin Sexton (lower body), and two-way forward Arthur Kaluma (lower body), who all missed their second consecutive preseason game. — Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026 Klaatu's giant robot sidekick, Gort, then steps out of the vessel, obliterates a load of firearms with his laser eyes, and silently guards the ship as his master is taken to hospital. — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026 However, Lucille guards dark secrets hidden in her family’s home, and with Edith’s ability to commune with the dead, the things the Sharpes have been trying to hide within the walls of Crimson Peak begin to burst forth. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2026 Aces guards Jewell Loyd and Jackie Young gestured toward officials and security personnel while pointing out attendees sitting in the front row. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for guards

Noun

According to the post, Kentucky State Police Aviation saw smoke in the area, and wardens and search and rescue personnel were able to access the location, near the headwaters of Cave Run Lake, using a boat.

— Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Sep. 2026
Game wardens did arrest nine people across Georgia for boating under the influence, the majority of whom were at Lake Lanier.

— Dan Raby, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of wardens

Noun

By then, Conan Doyle was receiving dozens of inquiries addressed to Sherlock Holmes each month—requests for autographs, advice, even locks of hair.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
The political environment appears increasingly favorable for Democrats and grim for Republicans, meaning districts once considered locks for the GOP are suddenly in play.

— Jamie Ross, Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of locks

Noun

The spa There are treatment rooms for a variety of massages, facials, and indulgences based on Wei Qi, a concept rooted in traditional Chinese medicine that boosts the body’s defenses.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Ukraine’s defenses have been hobbled in recent days by unexplained failures of the Starlink and Starshield satellite systems that are a crucial tool to protect civilians from incoming Russian missiles and drone attacks.

— Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of defenses

Noun

Each channel has different requirements, routing guides, compliance standards, package specifications and customer expectations, and the level of operational complexity has grown exponentially.

— Tom Wicky, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Multiple telehealth operators including Hims, Gatlan and TRT Nation now publish detailed exit guides covering tapering schedules, symptom timelines and medical supervision requirements.

— Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of guides

Noun

And the two players in the Heat’s starting unit who haven’t yet earned that honor — Mitchell and Wiggins — are both considered quality perimeter defenders.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
Smith tracked the pass from Julian Sayin and outjumped two defenders in the end zone for his 12th touchdown catch of the season and the 39th of his three-year college career.

— Mark Long, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of defenders

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