as in title
either one of the words that are at the top of a page in a dictionary or similar book and that show the first and last words on the page
It is easiest to use the guide words to find the page for the word you are looking up.
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Recent Examples of guide word
The Standing Rock movement’s guiding words, Mni Wiconi (water is life) meant more than clean water advocacy.
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Natasha Lennard, Esquire, 19 Sep. 2017
Natasha Lennard, Esquire, 19 Sep. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guide word
Noun
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Now, Close's title run will be represented in the same rarified air as Wooden.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
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Our list is filled with PGA Tour stalwarts, LIV Golf superstars and enough up-and-comers to make the novice fan think twice before automatically presuming this title will end up with one of the usual suspects.—
Jason Sobel,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In others, activists plastered flyers and banners on walls and public notice boards decrying the restrictions.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
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Bird species that scientists hadn’t seen, heard or genetically detected in over a decade are showing up again — and 2025 was a banner year for these rediscoveries.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Guide word.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guide%20word. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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