1
as in defenses
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 custodies
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 protects
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 wards
Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Millions of uninsured will strain the entire health care system, driving up costs across the board and forcing hundreds of hospitals, maternity wards and nursing homes to close.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
Off the wards, though, things were harder.
—Eli Cahan, Rolling Stone, 19 Dec. 2025
Originally built in 1907 as part of New York Hospital’s ambulance annex, the cast-iron bridge once shuttled workers and patients between wards three floors above the street.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 11 Dec. 2025
Kamran Khokar, a senior boy whose father was a counsellor in the Rawalpindi wards, knew one of the brewery managers, in fact knew all sorts of tricks and could get his fellow-students into scrapes and then out of them unscathed.
—Daniyal Mueenuddin, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025
Dementia housing without locked wards?
—NPR, 17 Nov. 2025
Shawnee is divided into four wards, with two City Council members elected to represent each ward and a mayor who represents the city at-large in four-year terms.
—Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2025
And voters soundly rejected a controversial wards proposal that would have expanded the number of council seats to nine and assign them by geographic wards, with 71% voting against it and 29% voting in favor.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
The federal government has used Medicare funding as a cudgel to get hospitals to follow its priorities before, including as a way to force desegregation of wards in the program's early years.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Millions of uninsured will strain the entire health care system, driving up costs across the board and forcing hundreds of hospitals, maternity wards and nursing homes to close.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
Off the wards, though, things were harder.
—Eli Cahan, Rolling Stone, 19 Dec. 2025
Originally built in 1907 as part of New York Hospital’s ambulance annex, the cast-iron bridge once shuttled workers and patients between wards three floors above the street.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 11 Dec. 2025
Kamran Khokar, a senior boy whose father was a counsellor in the Rawalpindi wards, knew one of the brewery managers, in fact knew all sorts of tricks and could get his fellow-students into scrapes and then out of them unscathed.
—Daniyal Mueenuddin, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025
Dementia housing without locked wards?
—NPR, 17 Nov. 2025
Shawnee is divided into four wards, with two City Council members elected to represent each ward and a mayor who represents the city at-large in four-year terms.
—Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2025
And voters soundly rejected a controversial wards proposal that would have expanded the number of council seats to nine and assign them by geographic wards, with 71% voting against it and 29% voting in favor.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wards
Noun
-
Still, the Seahawks will be that much more difficult to stop now that opposing defenses have another legit pass-catching threat to account for.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Pollinators, beneficial insects, and wildlife can all quickly become collateral damage, as outdoor pest control gradually breaks down their natural defenses.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
These comments are important because our government must place premium in creating a society that respects human lives, secures its borders and protects its citizens.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Spent foliage over the winter also protects the roots against cold.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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But the lawsuits argue these safeguards failed.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
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Shamblin’s parents are now suing OpenAI – ChatGPT’s creator – alleging the tech giant put his life in danger by tweaking its design last year to be more humanlike and by failing to put enough safeguards on interactions with users in need of emergency help.—
Allison Gordon,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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But the care and keeping of me?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Any infants experiencing symptoms should have their care provider contacted immediately.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Kings guards Russell Westbrook and Zach LaVine and forward DeMar DeRozan were quick to come to Sabonis’ aid, stepping between the two players before the situation escalated.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
2 Nov. 2025
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According to a team press release, Utah has cut floor-stretching center Mo Bamba plus guards Pedro Bradshaw and Sean East II, just days prior to the start of Utah's season.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
For Dimon, bureaucracy is a reflex that creeps into any large institution and shields leaders from reality.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Even the combative Venezuela of eight years ago, where kids with homemade shields assembled in the streets day after day to battle the dictatorship’s goons, is a fading memory.—
Quico Toro,
The Atlantic,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Its approach suggests that in the years since Ferrante first made her way into American readers’ hands, the status of feminist writing has seen a true shift.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
-
What Happens Next There will likely be long delays before SNAP benefits actually make it into the hands of beneficiaries again.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Today, almost no American politician, Democrat or Republican, defends the World Trade Organization.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Gina Knapp defends District 5 Gina Knapp will remain on the Blue Valley School Board after defending her seat from two challengers, including a Blue Valley parent who launched a last-minute write-in campaign.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wards.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wards. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
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