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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
So the creekbed was designed to move the water across the front yard and guide it down to the street; any residual water can irrigate the plants. Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025 Those values guided decisions on where to live, how to raise children, and even how to face hardship. Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
See a full cast guide for the upcoming 51st season here. Selome Hailu, Variety, 12 Sep. 2025 To compile the list, Intrepid tapped into its on-the-ground guides and experts in over 30 countries. Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for guide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guide
Verb
  • China’s economy showed further signs of weakness last month, with key data Monday revealing factory output and consumption rising at their weakest pace for around a year.
    Nino Paoli, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2025
  • That may explain why taking HRT in the years right around menopause—and in turn, avoiding the steep estrogen dropoff of this phase—was shown to lower dementia risk.
    Erica Sloan, SELF, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Four university police officers supervised the event, setting up what appeared to be a sort of perimeter surrounding the group.
    Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025
  • In this photo, mama, who liked posing for the camera, supervises her litter of kittens.
    Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Other patrons saw us with cell phones — an immense luxury at the time — and steered clear of us.
    Martin Suarez, Rolling Stone, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Putting structures in place keeps emotions from steering decisions off course.
    Bruce Helmer, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • His father, a former military officer, was imprisoned following the Iranian revolution until his mother was able to negotiate his release with prison guards, according to reporting by the New York Times.
    Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
  • The Fever were led by the trio of guard Kelsey Mitchell who contributed 19 points and four assists, forward Natasha Howard (12 points, five rebounds), and forward Aliyah Boston who tallied 15 points and five rebounds.
    Allison Smith, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Unlike last week, Moore won’t be able to coach the team in practice.
    Austin Meek, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
  • As has become tradition, the ads will reference trends and conversations in college football like the coaching hot seat, flag planting and quarterbacks sliding in the draft.
    Kristi Dosh, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Charter schools are overseen by independent boards, overwhelmingly, like nonprofit boards of directors that manage the oversight and then follow all or most of the same government rules related to public schools.
    Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Jakub Porzycki | Nurphoto | Getty Images OpenAI has hired Mike Liberatore, former finance chief at Elon Musk's xAI, to be the artificial intelligence startup's business finance officer, responsible for overseeing its massive infrastructure spending.
    MacKenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Unlocking perks But the rising cost of card membership has led some users to downgrade to lower-tier versions or explore more affordable offerings from Capital One or Citigroup, senior Bankrate analyst Ted Rossman told CNBC in June.
    Hugh Son, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Abreu currently leads the Kubota High Limit Racing standings after securing nine victories so far this season.
    Lydia Mee, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In that small moment, Stebbins begins to see these boys as companions and not adversaries.
    Leia Mendoza, Variety, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The Federal Trade Commission has launched an inquiry into several social media and artificial intelligence companies about the potential harms to children and teenagers who use their AI chatbots as companions.
    Barbara Ortutay, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Guide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guide. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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