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janitor

noun

ˈja-nə-tər How to pronounce janitor (audio)
Definition of janitornext
1
as in custodian
a person who takes care of a property sometimes for an absent owner got a job as the night janitor at the elementary school

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in porter
a person who tends a door according to popular Christian tradition, St. Peter acts as janitor at heaven's pearly gates

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 janitor The 1,000-student liberal arts school — which boasts a statue of US President James Garfield, who worked as a janitor there to pay his tuition — eventually pulled more than $47 million from the fund. — Bloomberg, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026 California is set to launch such a database by next summer for school support staff, such as bus drivers and janitors, with substantiated claims of egregious misconduct. — Holly McDede, ProPublica, 31 Aug. 2026 The titular gang comprises Mac (McElhenney), a closeted wannabe tough guy; the narcissistic prepster Dennis (Glenn Howerton); Dennis’s chronically unsure fraternal twin, Dee (Kaitlin Olson); and the bar’s buffoonish janitor, Charlie (Charlie Day). — Paula Mejía, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026 The janitor then told nurses of the discovery, and police were notified as required by law. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for janitor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for janitor
  1. custodian
  2. porter
  3. keeper
  4. warden
  5. caretaker
Noun
  • If the information isn't readily available online, contact your custodian to ask how to get these specific details.
    — Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Long is on Zoom, from her home in Los Angeles and seated at her kitchen counter with the sliding doors behind her, where a custodian is cleaning the deck that coyotes keep fouling.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of custodian
Noun
  • The refinement is drawing mainstream luxury retailers such as Net-a-porter, which is about to launch the brand from fall 2026.
    — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Browns Brown ales and porters, while not as dark as black stouts, are strikingly dark compared with almost every other style.
    — Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of porter
Noun
  • Ultimately, Jenkins capped the drive with a 4-yard keeper, putting UCF ahead 34-27 with 33 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
    — Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Trey Owens fooled the TCU defense with a 34-yard keeper on third-and-1 to get inside the 10-yard line.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of keeper
Noun
  • Hosfelt was among nine staff members, including the former warden, arrested in June 2024 and charged with felonies in connection with deaths at the prison.
    — Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Luckily — or maybe unluckily — the camp’s warden, a hardbitten guy with an oily smile named Clancy (Russell Crowe, hardbitten, smiley, and oily), takes a liking to Murphy.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of warden
Noun
  • Chan says the choice was tied to a broader decision to root the film in the patient’s own experience rather than a family’s or caretaker’s view of her.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Alongside another caretaker in the department, Scruggs pays for Cheeto’s care and medical expenses out of pocket.
    — Vince Basada, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of caretaker

Browse Nearby Words

jangly
janitor
janitors
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Cite this Entry

“Janitor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/janitor. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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