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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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

Early voting is currently under way at 56 locations in suburban Cook County, and all 50 Chicago wards along with the two permanent downtown super sites. — Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026 Moreau made a tool to measure the depth and heights of the wards, to make a replica of what the original key probably looked like. — Shayla Love, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026 In response to Stewart’s presentation, several alderpersons expressed their appreciation of local law enforcement and the work done to facilitate emergency response efforts across all nine wards. — Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026 In wards 6 and 7, Dave Tamayo and Heidi Sanborn, respectively, are running unopposed. — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2026 Scenes with the ward’s young women are where the film truly excels, undeniably a result of Khan and Le Querec’s months-long immersion inside real-life psychiatric wards. — Miriam Balanescu, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026 That has changed quietly, with robots now performing important roles in operating rooms, hospital wards, rehabilitation centers, and corridors around the world. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wards

Noun

Russia's Defense Ministry said air defenses downed 1,214 Ukrainian drones overnight in one of the largest drone attacks launched by Kyiv.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026
Unlike the gangs Bukele confronted in El Salvador, Haiti’s criminal groups have developed extensive defenses, access to increasingly sophisticated weapons and have shown the ability to quickly replenish their ranks.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of defenses

Noun

Those figures largely predate the state’s move to universal free child care, which began in November 2025 and is funded by an oil and gas windfall.

— Martie Bowser, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
In a bucket hat and without a care in the world, Murray speaks kindly but candidly about making his buddy Coyne’s TV dream come true.

— Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of care

Verb

The lawsuit argues the change violates the Administrative Procedure Act because it was adopted without explanation and the First Amendment, which protects lawyers' ability to advise people of their legal rights and seek prospective clients.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2026
The arrangement does not grant Indigenous peoples ownership of the sea or seabed, but protects the area’s ancestral uses, including fishing, shellfish and seaweed gathering, as well as access to sacred sites and areas used for navigation.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of protects

Noun

But these safeguards represent a substantial, continuing investment in protecting guests.

— Dennis Speigel, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
That led to working with the supervisors and the county chief executive, who, Hsieh said, wanted to ensure there were certain safeguards.

— Jon Regardie, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of safeguards

Noun

The king crab legs are barely seasoned but expertly grilled and dripping with salty sweetness, the kind that’s hard to wash off your hands.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2026
To such the State renders comparatively small service, and a slight tax is wont to appear exorbitant, particularly if they are obliged to earn it by special labor with their hands.

— René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of hands

Verb

Along with Adebayo, guards Pelle Larsson (illness) and Dru Smith (right calf strain) weren’t available for the Heat on Wednesday.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
The router comes with Advanced Router Protection, which guards your router, and a 30-day trial for Netgear Armor Security.

— George Yang, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of guards

Noun

Dozens of armored cops were still standing guard, shields raised, after a night when 500 people were taken into custody in the French capital alone.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
Swarms of police officers descended from helicopters and beat them with billy clubs and metal shields.

— E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of shields

Noun

Authorities said in July that income and gains from overseas trusts owned by Chinese tax residents would be taxed at 20%, setting off a scramble for cash and alternative structures.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Routing purchases through LLCs and trusts has become a more common practice among the ultrawealthy, who increasingly see public attention as a security risk.

— Sydney Lake, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026