1
as in custodians
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 porters
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
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Recent Examples of janitors
Low-wage service workers, including cleaners, janitors, security guards, cafeteria workers and other staffers who keep buildings operating, are often out of luck.
—
Matt Egan, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025
The great quarterbacks are janitors for organizational messes, smoothing over the cracks and making a bad team look competent for three hours.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2025
The Teamsters union includes cooks and other food service workers, as well as groundskeepers, janitors, parking attendants, maintenance workers, mechanics and more.
—Emma McNamee, Twin Cities, 9 Sep. 2025
And there is good reason companies still employ janitors to sweep floors despite the invention of the Roomba and commercial versions of robotic sweepers like Avidbots’ Neo.
—Will Yakowicz, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
This includes every level of staffing at local schools, from cafeteria workers to janitors, teachers to playground supervisors.
—Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025
Matt Egan, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025
The great quarterbacks are janitors for organizational messes, smoothing over the cracks and making a bad team look competent for three hours.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2025
The Teamsters union includes cooks and other food service workers, as well as groundskeepers, janitors, parking attendants, maintenance workers, mechanics and more.
—Emma McNamee, Twin Cities, 9 Sep. 2025
And there is good reason companies still employ janitors to sweep floors despite the invention of the Roomba and commercial versions of robotic sweepers like Avidbots’ Neo.
—Will Yakowicz, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
This includes every level of staffing at local schools, from cafeteria workers to janitors, teachers to playground supervisors.
—Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for janitors
Noun
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By the early 2010s, a new board of custodians was appointed, one which included Raja Khalidi.—
Ryan Byrnes,
Literary Hub,
7 Oct. 2025
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Law enforcement are exempt from the law, as well as custodians, maintenance workers, and those providing medical assistance.—
Abby Monteil,
Them.,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The shelters were once primarily used for summer hiking trips, when porters stocked them with food, drinks, and supplies.—
Scott Yorko,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Of those who stay, more than eighty per cent work in the informal sector—as domestic servants, street hawkers, porters, cleaners.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The zoo posted on Facebook Friday night that its keepers are seeking name suggestions, with people flooding the comment section with ideas.—
Bebe Hodges,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Oct. 2025
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In addition to the view, the museum includes belongings, photos and memories of the lighthouse keepers and their families.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The Clermont County Animal Shelter took possession of the animals after they were recovered by the wardens.—
Matthew Cupelli,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
4 Oct. 2025
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In partnership with the West Virginia Division of Corrections, Smith trained over 230 sergeants in a single year, followed by sessions for lieutenants, captains, and wardens.—
Kevin Kruse,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Our children stayed at the day care, but the process—there had been an investigation, in part prompted by us—had changed something in our relationship with the caretakers.—
Ayşegül Savaş,
New Yorker,
12 Oct. 2025
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The movie revolves around Mehdi, 25, who is invited to spend a quiet summer with his girlfriend Garance and his in-laws in the south of France, and sees their trip turn into chaos after a conflict breaks out between Garance’s family and the villa’s caretakers couple.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Janitors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/janitors. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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