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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
Leaders can guide their teams to focus on direct and meaningful connections with customers. Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025 Pure Amazon will travel its namesake region, with two cabins specifically for solo travelers, plus expert guides leading three- and four-night trips on rivers in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. Jennifer Billock, Travel + Leisure, 19 Jan. 2025
Noun
Vogue Shopping The insider’s guide to what to shop and how to wear it. Laura Jackson, Vogue, 28 Jan. 2025 Your guide to 2025 TV premiere dates Monday, Jan. 27 Streaming Darby & Joan (season finale) - Acorn TV Tribunal Justice (season premiere) - Prime Video Movies Eric Clapton Unplugged... Gerrad Hall, EW.com, 27 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for guide 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guide
Verb
  • The following histogram shows Ovechkin’s likely goals finish by the season’s end based on 1,000 simulations of the rest of the season.
    Dom Luszczyszyn, The Athletic, 2 Feb. 2025
  • In the months leading up to his first court appearance on August 6, the documentary shows an overt trend among members of the media, public, and former and current NBA players voicing their support for Bryant.
    Matias Grez, CNN, 1 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Summary: This position will supervise and lead a team of engineering and environmental subject matter experts who perform detailed review of environmental and financial documents related to infrastructure project scopes and planning.
    Chyna Blackmon, Charlotte Observer, 29 Jan. 2025
  • As a transient, he would be monitored, supervised and guarded for 24 hours per day.
    Teri Figueroa, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Each year, the pharmaceutical industry spends $6 billion in direct-to-consumer advertising to flood the airwaves with commercials that steer patients to the most expensive medications, despite cheaper, more effective drugs being on the market.
    Dick Durbin, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2025
  • Most important, the evening felt like an exciting and risky experiment at an institution that has otherwise steered a conservative line during this interregnum season without a music director.
    Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • There are five other factors: Offensive tackles Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson, guards Landon Dickerson and Mekhi Becton and center Cam Jurgens.
    Mike Preston, Baltimore Sun, 28 Jan. 2025
  • The radiator panel, fork guards, and headlamp surround are all unique, while the motocross fenders are borrowed from a Honda SL350.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • He was coached by Kalle Strid and Mikael Olofsson of the NOVA Vikings.
    Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 31 Jan. 2025
  • The two took pride in coaching their son, Maxim Naumov, who placed fourth at the U.S. national championships in Wichita on Sunday.
    Chris Kenning, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Eventually, more than 600 firefighters, soldiers and Marines arrived on the scene, with Army Major George S. Patton (later famous for helping lead the Allies to victory during World War II) tasked with overseeing the operation.
    Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Jan. 2025
  • The agreements were approved by a senior Pentagon official who oversees the military court at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Brigadier General Susan Escallier, who Austin designated as convening authority for military commissions in 2023.
    Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • With Saint Louis leading 69-63 and 1:10 remaining, a fight at Chaifetz Arena in Missouri spilled out over rows of seats and down onto the floor near the VCU bench.
    Jamie Barton, CNN, 29 Jan. 2025
  • Scales' job at OPM, managing the federal workforce, comes after Musk, her former employer, was tapped by Trump to lead the Department on Government Efficiency (DOGE), a nongovernmental task force aimed at reducing federal spending and making the federal government more efficient.
    Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • She's accused of opening fire on agents during a traffic stop in northern Vermont, sparking a shootout that also left her companion, Felix Bauckholt, dead.
    CBS News, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2025
  • Cluttered minds and cluttered bedrooms can be the worst kind of companion when trying to get a good night’s sleep.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 26 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near guide

Cite this Entry

“Guide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guide. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.

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