safeguard 1 of 2

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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

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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
Election officials have numerous safeguards in place to ensure that only eligible voters can register and vote. Kristin Connelly, Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2025 As the Trump administration moves to dismantle international public health safeguards, pull funding from local health departments and legitimize health misinformation, some experts now fear that the country is setting the stage for a long-term measles resurgence. Teddy Rosenbluth, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
Verb
All of us share a stake in safeguarding that freedom. Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2025 South Floridians are encouraged to express their appreciation for the roles these heroes play in safeguarding our parks, preserving our natural heritage and inspiring generations to cherish the wild places that define our country. Christina Mayo, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for safeguard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for safeguard
Noun
  • The federal government has moved to strip hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans from lawfully obtained deportation protections and work permits.
    Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2025
  • As a whole, the three decisions appear to form a growing patchwork of district-level protections to limit the use of the Alien Enemies Act in lieu of a nationwide order.
    Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 14 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Although, in situations where seeing separate providers isn’t possible (on a college campus, say, or in a community with few resources), rest assured a solid one will still take precautions to keep things as confidential as possible.
    Jenna Ryu, SELF, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Being aware of common web and phone scams and taking reasonable precautions can also go a long way toward protecting your info.
    Ryley Amond, CNBC, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Open for just 24 hours, starting April 24, the project is meant to humanize the harms of social media use among young children and call for governments and private companies to act urgently to protect online spaces for young users.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
  • But farmers trying to protect their sheep might have a different reaction to a wolf than a city dweller trying to photograph the predator for a post on Instagram.
    Olivia Ferrari, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • And they’re being embedded into everything from CRM platforms to national defense strategies.
    Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • In the guilt-innocence phase, the jury deliberated for about four hours and for about 90 minutes in the punishment phase, according to defense attorney Wiggins.
    Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In a twist from the first Trump administration, which tried to kill Barack Obama's landmark health insurance law, Trump's Justice Department is defending the law.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • But López Obrador has defended hydrocarbons since his youth, and the energy reform became a rallying cry for MORENA.
    Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Golden Dome would be very different than Israel's Iron Dome Trump's speech to Congress and his executive order have both referenced Israel's Iron Dome missile shield.
    Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Even her accessories were theatrical—like her spiked Balenciaga dad cap, and futuristic shield shades.
    Christian Allaire, Vogue, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The terrorist designation would extend U.S. jurisdiction to anyone assisting the gangs, from gun and ammunition traffickers to government officials in Haiti financing the groups.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2025
  • So, to threaten to take away someone’s guns and ammunition was indeed a threat that white Virginians took very seriously.
    Ari Daniel, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Safeguard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/safeguard. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

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