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
Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 4 Apr. 2025
This is a level of everyday friction that no one needs – patients on wards arguing about whether the person in the bed next to them should be there or not.
—Nancy Doyle, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Marc Griffin, VIBE.com, 17 Jan. 2025
Essay Behind the Draped Mirror Colin Dickey Covering mirrors while in mourning has a curious ambivalence: both ritual and superstition, a way of honoring the dead and warding them off, a vow that hides within the fear of something going wrong.
—Max Ufberg, hazlitt.net, 4 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ward
Noun
Ashley’s mother Karen confirmed to The Independent that her daughter had been moved to a general ward but was transferred back to ICU on Wednesday, April 2 after developing pneumonia, which caused her lung to collapse.
—Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 4 Apr. 2025
This is a level of everyday friction that no one needs – patients on wards arguing about whether the person in the bed next to them should be there or not.
—Nancy Doyle, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
Tekashi attempted to ward the men off but was eventually stomped out and left in the facility battered and bloodied.
—Marc Griffin, VIBE.com, 17 Jan. 2025
Essay Behind the Draped Mirror Colin Dickey Covering mirrors while in mourning has a curious ambivalence: both ritual and superstition, a way of honoring the dead and warding them off, a vow that hides within the fear of something going wrong.
—Max Ufberg, hazlitt.net, 4 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ward
Noun
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And the Chargers were still able to address defense on Days 2 and 3.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2025
-
Foreign ownership caps exist in critical sectors like telecom, aviation, and defense.—
Garth Friesen,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The man was taken into custody outside the courthouse after agents chased him on foot.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Apr. 2025
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According to the suit, at one point as VML's father tried to secure her release, New Orleans ICE Field Office Director Mellissa Harper began interrogating the family's attorney about the father's immigration status and attempted to lure him into custody as well.—
Alana Wise,
NPR,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
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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
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The independent agency is in charge of investigating and adjudicating complaints about unfair labor practices and protecting U.S. workers' rights to form unions.—
Jenna McLaughlin,
NPR,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The revolver was located and determined to have been loaded with five rounds of .357 magnum ammunition.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2025
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Several other guns and ammunition were discovered in the barn.—
Susan Mallie,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The first stop in Miami brought together powerful voices where culture, advocacy, and community care intersect.—
Melissa Noel,
Essence,
3 May 2025
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While this action may have appeared unusual to outsiders who are accustomed to immediate access to basic goods and services, this show of resilience and care—not to mention incredible physical and logistical coordination—was not a surprise to many.—
Catherine Jessee,
Southern Living,
3 May 2025
Verb
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Republicans defend the changes as necessary to prevent fraud in the petition-gathering process, but bill sponsors said that among hundreds of allegations of petition fraud in 2024, there were 18 arrests.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
3 May 2025
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Following his controversial decision to play the Lakers’ second-half starters for the entirety of Game 4 — a first in NBA playoff history — Redick defended the decision at his practice media availability and his pre-Game 5 availability.—
Jovan Buha,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
Noun
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The first Trump administration continued to weaken safeguards for 35 million acres of federal lands — more than any other administration in history — and offered up millions more for oil and gas development, but stopped short of trying sell off or transfer large areas of the public domain.—
Chris D'Angelo,
Vox,
2 May 2025
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The wildfire mitigation effort President Trump’s administration has acted to roll back environmental safeguards around future logging projects on more than half of U.S. national forests, under an emergency designation that cites dangers from wildfires.—
Jenny Kane and Claire Rush,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2025
Verb
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Specifically, the Swiss Guard accompanies the pope to public appearances, guards Vatican City and protects the College of Cardinals during a conclave (the election of a new pope), according to The Holy See.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
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He was trained throughout his time as a junior officer to protect and guard the nation’s secrets.—
Tara Suter,
The Hill,
22 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ward. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
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