WARDS Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

wards 1 of 2

noun

plural of ward

as in defenses

means or method of defending frequent hand washing is an oft-recommended ward against the spread of common germs

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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

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wards

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of ward

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

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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 wards

Noun

More recently, a rolling cast of content creators has taken to making day trips to Blackpool’s roughest wards to capitalize on the environs of its impoverished communities. — George Francis Lee, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2026 Hospitals are also closing labor and maternity wards — nearly 60 wards have closed since 2012, according to CalMatters. — Tania Azhang, Sacbee.com, 11 Aug. 2026 And more than 500 hospitals closed maternity wards between 2010 and 2022, according to a study published in the medical research journal JAMA. — Kristin Wright, NPR, 11 Aug. 2026 That applies to organisations such as cafes, leisure centres, gyms and hairdressers, as well as public toilets, local sports clubs with at least 25 members, hospital wards, domestic violence shelters and rape-crisis shelters. — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 6 Aug. 2026 Held the first Tuesday each August, this year’s celebration in Aurora included block parties and gatherings of police, fire and emergency vehicles at 24 different community events across all of the city’s 10 wards. — David Sharos, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026 Health workers warn the crisis could delay surgeries requiring transfusions and paralyze maternity wards. — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 29 July 2026 These immigrants, mostly undocumented, are blamed for rampant crime, taking jobs and overrunning hospital wards and places in government schools. — Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2026 The next day, a judge ruled that Robby and Michael should be considered wards of the state and sent them to an orphanage. — Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wards

Noun

Such a move would mark a significant expansion of Moscow and Pyongyang’s military cooperation and comes as Ukraine is running painfully short of air defenses.

— Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
The United States has about 28,500 forces stationed in South Korea to bolster the country's defenses — a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty.

— CBS News, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of defenses

Noun

Guests with specific needs can coordinate directly with the front desk, which will handle any request with genuine care.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
The Korean skin-care brand shot to fame with its Wrinkle Bounce Multi Balm, a chunky pink stick that became nearly as recognizable for its K-drama cameos as for its skin-care benefits.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of care

Verb

The indiscriminate nature of the data collection, Garvie says, also raises concerns that the cameras violate the Fourth Amendment, which protects people from being searched unreasonably.

— Meg Anderson, NPR, 21 Aug. 2026
One dose of measles vaccine protects most people from the disease, but two doses are recommended to improve effectiveness.

— Kathryn H. Jacobsen, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of protects

Noun

Last week, Flock Safety's CEO announced safeguards in response to misuse concerns around the country.

— Tammy Mutasa, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
Board member Jackie Traynere, the chair of the Transportation Committee, said the County Board members will continue to look at safeguards for the Flock cameras and notify municipalities of any amendments to their existing agreements.

— Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of safeguards

Noun

Prosecutors said Asora had Hansen zip-tie MacNeil’s hands before Hansen was restrained.

— Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026
These include a severe or persistent headache, changes in vision such as blurred vision or seeing spots, pain in the upper abdomen, significant swelling of the face or hands, shortness of breath, and nausea or vomiting later in pregnancy.

— Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of hands

Verb

Hal Jordan is the chief Green Lantern of planet Earth at this time, part of an intergalactic policing organization that guards sectors of the cosmos.

— Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Aug. 2026
Meanwhile, on the neighboring field, Purdy had finished his initial reps by the time the 49ers’ offense, particularly guards Robert Jones and Dominick Puni, got into a scrum with the Titans.

— Cam Inman, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of guards

Noun

Ivan was married, with two children, and worked as the curator of a small museum that collected artifacts from the eastern highlands, like masks and shields.

— Rachel Aviv, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
These troops generally fought with swords and shields, using a method of warfare that involved rapid movement and raids.

— Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of shields

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“Wards.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wards. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of wards

noun

verb

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