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
Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Artificial gravity wards against the dangers of microgravity, including bone loss, muscle wasting, heart weakening, and eye destabilization.
—Big Think, 19 Feb. 2026
Now, Violet must journey beyond the failing wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre.
—Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
The fire that sent her into the closed wards of forensic psychiatry still casts long shadows onto her life.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 17 Feb. 2026
Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the records department at Gaza’s Health Ministry, said MSF’s suspension would have a significant impact as hundreds of patients are admitted to the maternity and burn wards daily.
—Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Medical staff across the country have reported casualties from their wards to doctors and activists outside Iran, who have estimated that the real death toll is much higher.
—Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 11 Feb. 2026
Thomas, for all his proprietary yammering about his young wards, turns out to have fatally underestimated them.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
The Oklahoma City mayor, elected as an at-large representative of the city, also serves alongside other members of the Oklahoma City Council who represent each of its eight wards.
—Maria Guinnip, Oklahoman, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
Carr watches over her furry wards like a proud mother.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Artificial gravity wards against the dangers of microgravity, including bone loss, muscle wasting, heart weakening, and eye destabilization.
—Big Think, 19 Feb. 2026
Now, Violet must journey beyond the failing wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre.
—Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
The fire that sent her into the closed wards of forensic psychiatry still casts long shadows onto her life.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 17 Feb. 2026
Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the records department at Gaza’s Health Ministry, said MSF’s suspension would have a significant impact as hundreds of patients are admitted to the maternity and burn wards daily.
—Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Medical staff across the country have reported casualties from their wards to doctors and activists outside Iran, who have estimated that the real death toll is much higher.
—Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 11 Feb. 2026
Thomas, for all his proprietary yammering about his young wards, turns out to have fatally underestimated them.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
The Oklahoma City mayor, elected as an at-large representative of the city, also serves alongside other members of the Oklahoma City Council who represent each of its eight wards.
—Maria Guinnip, Oklahoman, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wards
Noun
-
Criminal defenses that meet the legal threshold to argue an alternative perpetrator was responsible are extremely uncommon in the state, legal experts told the Statesman.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Ukraine’s frontline defenses have held up – but only just.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That further protects mule deer as well as possibly protecting people.—
Ted Williams,
Denver Post,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Discrimination is outlawed under South Africa's constitution, which also protects property rights and due process.—
Anderson Cooper,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The 2009 finding supported common sense safeguards to cut climate pollution, including from cars and trucks, the lawsuit says.—
MATTHEW DALY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
19 Feb. 2026
-
While safeguards exist, students should familiarize themselves with their district’s policy regarding school absences and suspensions, Achar said.—
Jessica Ma,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Its name honors Elba, a former owner known for tending the garden with care and devotion.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Housing and child care in particular are largely unavailable and unaffordable.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The First Amendment guards the right to express unpopular views.—
Stephanie A,
The Conversation,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Those guards lineups and rotations can only beat tanking teams and not all the time.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Themed collectibles will also be available in honor of the collaboration, with items like Hello Kitty and Friends sticker sets, themed in-game tokens and shields, dice and emojis.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Cucumbers and squash plants pair well with peppers because their low growth habit shields the soil from direct sun, prevents weeds, and keeps your soil from drying out too quickly.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Belt-Stubblefield ignored orders to stop and raised his hands, and Neely punched him in an attempt to de-escalate the situation, according to Chamberlain’s account in the days after the shooting.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
24 Feb. 2026
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Goldberg's relatable flub came amid a Hot Topics discussion about Punch, an adorable macaque whose story of abandonment and bullying at the hands of other primates inside his Japanese zoo enclosure took the internet by storm across the last week.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For its part, AMD defends the decision to offer Meta and OpenAI ownership stakes in the company.—
Kevin Stankiewicz,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Cornyn defends high spending CBS News Texas asked Cornyn about the spending and whether an incumbent should have to spend all that money to stay in office.—
Jack Fink,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wards.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wards. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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