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guide

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noun

as in guard
one that accompanies another for protection, guidance, or as a courtesy followed our guide through the dangerous mountain trails

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb guide contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of guide are engineer, lead, pilot, and steer. While all these words mean "to direct in a course or show the way to be followed," guide implies intimate knowledge of the way and of all its difficulties and dangers.

guided the scouts through the cave

Where would engineer be a reasonable alternative to guide?

The synonyms engineer and guide are sometimes interchangeable, but engineer implies finding ways to avoid or overcome difficulties in achieving an end or carrying out a plan.

engineered his son's election to the governorship

When is it sensible to use lead instead of guide?

Although the words lead and guide have much in common, lead implies showing the way and often keeping those that follow under control and in order.

led his team to victory

When is pilot a more appropriate choice than guide?

In some situations, the words pilot and guide are roughly equivalent. However, pilot suggests guidance over a dangerous or complicated course.

piloted the bill through the Senate

When can steer be used instead of guide?

While in some cases nearly identical to guide, steer implies an ability to keep to a course and stresses the capacity of maneuvering correctly.

steered the ship through a narrow channel

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 guide
Verb
Totality will be experienced at the 17th-century Parador de Lerma, directly on the centerline, with astronomy talks and guided viewing from veteran astronomer and eclipse chaser Alex Filippenko, a professor of astronomy at the University of California, Berkeley. Jamie Carter, Space.com, 4 July 2025 Teachers at Kofa High School in Yuma helped her through the SATs, and guided her in seeking scholarships and applying to colleges like the University of Arizona and Arizona State University. Sarah Lapidus, AZCentral.com, 3 July 2025
Noun
The website has a guide to each item: thefilson.com/wall-of-filson. Lucius Q – 1131 Broadway St., Pendleton The popular barbecue joint opened in Pendleton in 2018. Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 3 July 2025 An Italian guide just named two Miami-area pizzerias among the best in the country. Connie Ogle july 3, Miami Herald, 3 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for guide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guide
Verb
  • That leadership will need to show itself in the coming months, before ballots are printed and voters start returning ballots by mail.
    Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
  • The rest of the tapes couldn’t be used, shown, or go anywhere.
    Devon Ivie, Vulture, 7 July 2025
Verb
  • All of it is medically supervised and adjusted throughout the stay.
    Nel-Olivia Waga, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • Each student had a spiritual director, and Prevost chose Sister Lyn Osiek, who also supervised his theological-reflection class.
    Belinda Luscombe, Time, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • Both would spend trillions to extend the 2017 tax cuts while steering more money to the military and immigration enforcement.
    Elena Moore, NPR, 1 July 2025
  • Fifth, without patients being steered through insurance networks, direct-to-patient providers must compete for business by offering attractive pricing and high-quality care.
    Ge Bai, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • That intention was both seen and heard—especially when New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud used her platform to deliver a larger message.
    Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • One potential reason why Clark’s peers ranked her so low among guards is due to playing only nine of the Fever’s 16 games this season.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • In 2017 he was forced to coach the Golden State Warriors because Steve Kerr was having health issues due to a back injury.
    Tom Rende, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
  • Van der Kraan was head of coaching at Manchester City.
    Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 3 July 2025
Verb
  • Kling, who grew up in Kansas and turns 68 in October, has overseen a period of tremendous growth for the city.
    Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 30 June 2025
  • District managers normally oversee about 10 locations and weren’t previously part of the hiring process at the store level.
    Glen Luke Flanagan, Fortune, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • Studios with a deal for FilmRise, a leading indie distributor of digital streaming content.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 1 July 2025
  • That’s why two months ago, in the most extraordinary election of my lifetime, Canadians chose Mark Carney to lead them away from America.
    Stephen Marche, The Atlantic, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • One 2023 paper in Pacific Conservation Biology reported that nearly 75% of companion animals studied—from horses to dogs to smaller mammals—showed fear responses to fireworks.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 4 July 2025
  • Arizona Republic Every year, approximately 6.5 million companion animals enter shelters nationwide, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
    AZCentral.com, AZCentral.com, 3 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Guide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guide. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.

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