safeguard 1 of 2

1
2
as in precaution
a measure taken to preclude loss or injury safeguards that were intended to assure our security, but not at the expense of our liberty

Synonyms & Similar Words

safeguard

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word safeguard different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of safeguard are defend, guard, protect, and shield. While all these words mean "to keep secure from danger or against attack," safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger.

our civil liberties must be safeguarded

When might defend be a better fit than safeguard?

While the synonyms defend and safeguard are close in meaning, defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.

defend the country

When is it sensible to use guard instead of safeguard?

Although the words guard and safeguard have much in common, guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger.

White House entrances are well guarded

When is protect a more appropriate choice than safeguard?

The words protect and safeguard are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, protect implies the use of something (such as a covering) as a bar to the admission or impact of what may attack or injure.

a hard hat to protect your head

When could shield be used to replace safeguard?

The synonyms shield and safeguard are sometimes interchangeable, but shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack.

shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand

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 safeguard
Noun
Supporters argue that precious metals offer a safeguard against the declining value of the U.S. dollar, which can be impacted by large-scale federal spending and policies set by the Federal Reserve. Luciano Duque, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 July 2025 Left to their own devices, private AI companies give lip service to ethical safeguards, but tend not to implement them. Mark Temnycky, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 July 2025
Verb
The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 July 2025 These conditions were put in place to safeguard the public interest. ArsTechnica, 9 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for safeguard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for safeguard
Noun
  • Salmon and other fish populations, deprived of hundreds of miles of quiet pools to lay their eggs and for the juvenile fish to survive and thrive, shrank by about 95%, which led the federal government to enact protections for some salmon populations.
    Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 21 July 2025
  • Yet despite promises from EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to better protect the public from PFAS compounds, efforts to weaken current protections are already under way.
    David Michaels, The Atlantic, 20 July 2025
Noun
  • Elderly persons, children and individuals with respiratory illnesses are particularly susceptible to elevated air pollution levels and should take extra precautions to avoid exposure.
    Jason Green, Mercury News, 11 July 2025
  • So far, no illnesses or allergic reactions have been reported, but the company is issuing the recall as a precaution.
    Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • The East Asian power provided air defense systems to the Balkan nation to help protect its airspace, raising concerns in the United States about Serbia's path toward European integration.
    Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
  • Applying a daily sunscreen can help protect your skin from UV rays.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 15 July 2025
Noun
  • Diggs, a former second-round pick out of Alabama, has been a key contributor for the Cowboys' defense for five seasons.
    Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 July 2025
  • Hedging existing military capabilities with solutions from defense tech vendors not only complements what defense primes can do with large platforms (ships, planes and tanks) but also brings more competition to defense procurement with companies that can ramp manufacturing quickly.
    Michael Brown, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
Verb
  • And the company defended its driver-assistance systems.
    Joel Rose, NPR, 14 July 2025
  • Shevchenko successfully defended her title via fourth-round TKO.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • The challenge was depositing a uniform layer of gold on a curved shield.
    Cassell Ferere, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • The shell is made of ultra-durable and scratch-resistant polycarbonate that keeps the suitcase light (just over six pounds) despite providing a tough shield for your belongings.
    Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • South Korean intelligence officials have estimated that the North has sent Russia roughly 13,000 soldiers and millions of artillery shells, and Ukrainian officials believe as much as 40% of Russia’s ammunition now comes from North Korea, Bloomberg reported.
    Mathias Hammer, semafor.com, 13 July 2025
  • Russia and North Korea’s alliance has strengthened, as seen in North Korea’s supply of troops and ammunition to the Ukrainian battlefield in support of Russia.
    David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 12 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Safeguard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/safeguard. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on safeguard

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!