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 Earl of Nithsdale broke out of the Tower of London by dressing as a lady-in-waiting and slipping past the guards. — Bill Reinhard, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026 Unfortunately, the less said about China’s guards, the better; their main job is to get the ball past half court without turning it over and then feed the bigs. — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 Gray was a pivotal piece in the 2022 victory at the World Cup, but Young, despite being one of the best guards in the WNBA today, wasn’t on the squad. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026 On a recent weekday morning at the ferry terminal, Kucera's guards answered passengers' questions and provided directions. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026 Critical Response Strategies is one of the private contractors that was hired by the state to provide guards to oversee the detention center. — Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2026 The suit also alleges that the nightclub’s owners failed to properly train and control guards. — Amber Gaudet, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2026 Three of the jail guards sustained minor injuries and scratches, Bland said. — Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026 Health officials also advised residents to place draft guards underneath doors, make sure exterior doors closed tightly and keep doors and unscreened windows closed, especially while sleeping. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Verb

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 Shrine guards flick sticks with ostrich feathers at female pilgrims lingering too long in the shade to try to keep the flow of people moving. — Jane Arraf, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026 The caterpillar even guards the wasp’s cocoons before eventually dying. — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 6 Aug. 2026 There’s this belief in the NFL that the more a player thinks about injuries, guards themselves to prevent them, the more they are destined to happen. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 30 July 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

Some of the projects focus educating people about safe firearm storage, including distributing safety devices like gun locks, to prevent accidental shootings and suicides, according to the release.

— Renee Anderson, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026
Redeeming the code within 30 days of purchase locks it permanently to the IsThisSpam account used to activate it.

— StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 13 Sep. 2026

Definition of locks

Noun

Their bond deepens with the wry neuroses and gradually dropped defenses of many a midlife romantic comedy, though Parkinson’s complicates matters in unusual, empathetically explored ways.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026
Challenging down and distances, like a third-and-7, is when opposing defenses can bring extra rushers to get after the quarterback.

— Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of defenses

Noun

Flynn had been for a drink with a girl whose job was to place adverts in the various Festival guides and brochures and who spoke mostly in panegyrics.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
New data guides prototype The high-temperature measurements now give Westinghouse engineers more evidence for refining their analytical models.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of guides

Noun

Among defensive linemen, PFF rated Biggers, Cooper and Beal as Miami’s best run defenders Sunday, while ranking Uche, Herring and Seiler as the three worst.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026
With three Panthers defenders in hot pursuit, Walker slowed down and stuck his rear end out, cutting off linebacker Princely Umanmielen and making certain Monangai would get the last half of his big run without being touched.

— Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of defenders

Verb

SpaceX will use this imagery to study and potentially improve the heat shield, which protects Ship during its return trip through Earth's atmosphere.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Your patient leadership keeps friends aligned, and your careful math protects long-term goals, such as saving for training.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of protects

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