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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ward
Anastasiia Malenko, USA Today, 11 June 2025
The robot handles medicine deliveries, ward patrols and visitor guidance, which Foxconn estimates can reduce nurse workloads by up to 30%.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 4 June 2025
Alison Willmore, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025
To ward against wrongdoing, the head of the agency, Kenneth L. Wainstein, bolstered oversight of its actions.
—Eileen Sullivan, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ward
Noun
In the southern port of Odesa, an overnight drone attack hit an emergency medical building, a maternity ward and residential buildings, regional governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram.
—Anastasiia Malenko, USA Today, 11 June 2025
The robot handles medicine deliveries, ward patrols and visitor guidance, which Foxconn estimates can reduce nurse workloads by up to 30%.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 4 June 2025
Verb
Angels and demons alike can’t help but almost kiss Constantine in their attempts to ward him off, and Satan, between whispered threats, takes a moment to teasingly rub his foot on the dying man’s thigh.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025
To ward against wrongdoing, the head of the agency, Kenneth L. Wainstein, bolstered oversight of its actions.
—Eileen Sullivan, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ward
Noun
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The Pentagon on Thursday released an extraordinary number of details about the military's top-secret bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities and its defense of an air base in Qatar.—
Anne Flaherty,
ABC News,
26 June 2025
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Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh also attended the Qingdao meeting, the first visit from an Indian defense chief to China since a deadly 2020 border clash between the two countries.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
26 June 2025
Noun
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According to legal documents obtained by TMZ, Johnson was taken into custody around 6 p.m. local time at an Austin hotel after traveling from his home in Willis, Texas.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
25 June 2025
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Johnson was taken into custody by police on June 24 and charged with making a terroristic threat, according to Austin Police Department (and first reported by KXAN).—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
25 June 2025
Verb
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It is believed that the alligator may have been a female acting to protect her hatchlings, reptile expert Kim Titterington told 7News Miami.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
People.com,
23 June 2025
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Senate Democrats introduced new legislation to protect hundreds of thousands of immigrants who have had their legal status revoked by the Trump administration.—
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 June 2025
Noun
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Detonating Everything In fact, the Russians might be said to have originated the tactic of using small drones to bring the detonator with their series of sabotage attacks against Ukrainian ammunition depots in 2017.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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Ukraine is completely out of ammunition for its two vital missile defense SAMP/T batteries, the Franco-Italian version of the U.S. Patriot missile defense system, according to sources speaking with Le Monde late last month.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
29 June 2025
Noun
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The cooling station — a partnership among Gastonia, Gaston County and HealthNet Gaston, the lead agency for the county’s continuum of care — opened Friday after the community raised concerns about the need for a place for the unhoused to escape the heat.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
1 July 2025
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With more than 750 products across makeup, skin and hair care and coloring, L’Oréal Paris ranks as the biggest beauty brand in the world.—
Noor Lobad,
Footwear News,
1 July 2025
Verb
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Thanks to the oceans on either side of us, the frozen wasteland to the north, and a gentle behemoth to the south, no one thought much about having to defend our borders.—
Stephen Marche,
The Atlantic,
1 July 2025
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The medium-to-long-range layer, David’s Sling, has replaced Patriot batteries supplied by the United States, defending against both aircraft, cruise missiles, and short-range ballistic missiles using a missile called Stunner.—
Sebastien Roblin,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Noun
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Despite known risks, there are currently no standardized safeguards requiring companies to detect or interrupt these escalating interactions.—
Thomas Westerholm,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
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But bats’ high p53 activity steps in as a safeguard, removing any cells that start to go rogue.—
Jenny Lehmann,
Discover Magazine,
17 June 2025
Verb
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Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton has exercised his player option for the 2025-26 season, a league source confirmed to The Athletic.—
Eric Nehm,
New York Times,
21 June 2025
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Seven players – from Kayla Thornton to Burton to rookie guard Carla Leite to former college teammate Kate Martin and others – spent time guarding at least one Clark attempt.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ward. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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