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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Example Sentences
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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.
—
Natasha Lennard, Esquire, 19 Sep. 2017
Natasha Lennard, Esquire, 19 Sep. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guide word
Noun
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When reconstructing the Inquisition trial of a sixteenth-century northern Italian miller, historian Carlo Ginzburg encountered a line that would eventually inspire the title of his paradigm-shifting study The Cheese and the Worms.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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More recently, footage released Wednesday showed Gaethje using the FBI Headquarters as part of his preparation for his lightweight title fight against Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 June 2026
Noun
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Hotels and Airbnb Businesses along Roosevelt Avenue prepare for the World Cup by displaying flags, soccer jerseys, and banners on June 09, 2026, in the Queens borough of New York City.—
Contessa Brewer,
CNBC,
10 June 2026
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Some of the banner’s most successful cultural initiatives include Cinema Paradiso, a festival dedicated to movies, food and clubbing which has been housed at some of Paris’ most prestigious venues, from the Grand Palais to the Louvre.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Guide word.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guide%20word. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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