1
as in defense
means or method of defending
frequent hand washing is an oft-recommended ward against the spread of common germs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in custody
responsibility for the safety and well-being of someone or something
gained the ward of his cousin upon the death of her parents
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to protect
to drive danger or attack away from
vowed that he would take whatever measures were necessary to ward the nation's people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ward
Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
In Chile, Yopo Díaz says, there is increasing discussion about the closure of maternity wards due to lower demand.
—Manuela Castro, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026
Utilities like ComEd and Peoples Gas also got to work on Thursday to ward against the incoming frigid air.
—Laura Bannon, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ward
Noun
Babies sick with the virus were forcibly separated from their parents and piled into cribs in crowded wards.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
In Chile, Yopo Díaz says, there is increasing discussion about the closure of maternity wards due to lower demand.
—Manuela Castro, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
Alfred initially refused to allow the officers inside the psych ward with their firearms, but later admitted the cops after his supervisor, NYCHHC Officer Michael Kee, 53, arrived at the scene, according to sources.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026
Utilities like ComEd and Peoples Gas also got to work on Thursday to ward against the incoming frigid air.
—Laura Bannon, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ward
Noun
-
The All-Big 12 defense guard has been a key cog the last two seasons for the Horned Frogs as one of the best defenders in the country.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Amir Levy/Getty Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia all activated their air defense systems to intercept incoming Iranian missiles and drones, as Tehran kept up the pressure on its Gulf neighbors.—
Lucia I Suarez Sang,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The patient who attacked Madsen died while in the custody of the Dakota County Sheriff's Office.—
Jennifer Mayerle,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Sharp, who remains in custody without bail, is scheduled to be sentenced on May 5.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Choose fairness to protect your peace.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
In 2023, state Medicaid agencies began making sure enrollees who were protected from being dropped from the program during the covid pandemic still qualified for coverage.—
Sam Whitehead,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
After the firearms were discovered in the home, a police K-9 unit trained in firearms and ammunition detection swept the school Tuesday night, but nothing was found.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
When she was arrested on March 9, 2022, she was found in possession of cocaine, cellphones, firearm magazines, and ammunition.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Prosecutors said the court issued an order preventing him from owning, possessing or having any animals in his care or custody.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Noah James, who plays Andrew, and Vanessa Benavente, who plays Mother Mary, both said the crew takes great care in making sure everything looks and feels authentic.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Some people defended Altman’s business acumen and dismissed his rivals, especially Sutskever and Amodei, as failed aspirants to his throne.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
But the program was able to ascend to another level when 6-foot-7 transfer Lauren Betts arrived from Stanford as a genuine superstar who changed the way the Bruins were able to play and the way other teams had to defend them.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In San Jose, AFSCME Local 101 and IFPTE Local 21 are pushing for AI safeguards through contract negotiations, including a joint oversight committee to review new systems before they’re deployed.—
Maria Noel Fernandez,
Mercury News,
10 Apr. 2026
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Larger foreign exchange reserves also added a layer of safeguard for central banks to defend their currency.—
Anniek Bao,Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In it, after her fisherman husband disappears at sea, Telsi takes a job as a cleaning lady on a boat moored at the local marina, guarded by a group of women.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Suddenly the island’s shores, always guarded, opened for those who wanted to leave.—
Sarah Moreno,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ward. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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