sentinel

noun

ˈsent-nəl How to pronounce sentinel (audio)
Definition of sentinelnext
as in guardian
a person or group that watches over someone or something a lone sentinel kept watch over the fort

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 sentinel Dozens of health organizations and research groups have formed an independent surveillance network to track the presence of dangerous pathogens in community wastewater—a sentinel for potential outbreaks. — Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 10 June 2026 Of all of them, the sentinel suites are undoubtedly one of my favorite places in the world. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026 Corkie putting the snake into the tub looks like the sentinels or the wire going into people’s pods. — Nick Newman, IndieWire, 1 June 2026 And for decades, billboards with Smart’s smiling face stood like sentinels along Highway 101, silently urging anyone with information to come forward. — Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 8 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for sentinel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sentinel
  1. guardian
  2. guard
  3. custodian
  4. warden
  5. keeper
  6. sentry
Noun
  • Noschese recommends the parents and guardians of her clients to attend the presentation.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Hermès positions itself above the melee, as a guardian of tasteful continuity.
    — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of guardian
Noun
  • The right-side combo of tackle JC Latham and rookie camp surprise Fernando Carmona at guard are particularly intriguing as a run-blocking combo.
    — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Rookie Jake Slaughter moves to that critical spot, and although the second-round pick played that position in college, the Chargers were hoping to start him at guard.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of guard
Noun
  • Process owners are becoming the custodians of enterprise autonomy, a responsibility that’s arriving faster than most teams expected.
    — Rajesh Gharpure, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026
  • According to the Reza website, the brand actually dates back to the mid-1700s when the emperor of Persia selected the ancestors of the Reza family as custodians of the royal treasury eventually to serve as royal jewelers of Persia.
    — David Moin, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of custodian
Noun
  • According to the post, Kentucky State Police Aviation saw smoke in the area, and wardens and search and rescue personnel were able to access the location, near the headwaters of Cave Run Lake, using a boat.
    — Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Game wardens did arrest nine people across Georgia for boating under the influence, the majority of whom were at Lake Lanier.
    — Dan Raby, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of warden
Noun
  • Brazilian ’keeper Rogerio Ceni was Sao Paulo’s set-piece taker between 1997 and 2015, and scored 129 goals.
    — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Allison Rugila, associate Sound keeper with Save the Sound, said that the presence of dolphins in the Long Island Sound points to both an ecological success story and a potential warning about the impacts of climate change.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of keeper
Noun
  • Instead, Hongqi said the solar roof could help supply lower-voltage electrical loads, including air conditioning, refrigerators and the vehicle’s sentry or monitoring systems.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
  • In humans, traits such as neuroticism and recklessness appear to have some evolutionary basis—emerging perhaps to provide our species with sentries who alerted us to threats, and with explorers who led the way to new food sources.
    — Vann R. Newkirk II, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026
Definition of sentry

Browse Nearby Words

sentiments
sentinel
sentinels
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Cite this Entry

“Sentinel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sentinel. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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