as in establishment
the usually older members of an organization (such as a political party) who do not want or like change
She's not popular with the old guard.
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Recent Examples of old guard
Since most of the agency’s old guard departed in a flurry of resignations more than a year ago, SANDAG’s new leaders have moved to make many of the outstanding reforms called for by auditors, a new report finds.
—
Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025
Foxx has underscored this potential first and looks to define the race as her attempt to topple the out-of-step Democratic old guard with fresh perspective.
—Brittany Shepherd, ABC News, 15 July 2025
Seeing which teams have successfully moved on from their old guard and integrated their young talent.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 2 July 2025
With socialists? Mamdani’s victory means AOC may be emboldened now to run for president in 2028, setting up a huge intra-party battle between establishment old guard moderates and progressives.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for old guard
Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025
Foxx has underscored this potential first and looks to define the race as her attempt to topple the out-of-step Democratic old guard with fresh perspective.
—Brittany Shepherd, ABC News, 15 July 2025
Seeing which teams have successfully moved on from their old guard and integrated their young talent.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 2 July 2025
With socialists? Mamdani’s victory means AOC may be emboldened now to run for president in 2028, setting up a huge intra-party battle between establishment old guard moderates and progressives.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for old guard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for old guard
establishment
Noun
-
If the marathons of New York and London showcase splendour and establishment and magnificence and size and place, then the Great North Run offers something else; to complete it, to witness it, is to understand its pull.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Three Arlington restaurants were temporarily closed and another establishment failed after inspectors found roaches and unsanitary conditions during the August 17-30 health inspections, according to data from the city and compiled by the Star-Telegram.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Old guard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/old%20guard. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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