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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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

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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

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 In participatory budgeting, several wards, as well as the Chicago Park District, set aside portions of discretionary funds for projects endorsed by residents. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 8 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 Nurses are fainting on the wards, children are flopping onto their desks at school. — Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wards

Noun

Ukraine’s air defenses are strained and urgently need more ammunition as Russia appears to be targeting the power grid ahead of winter.

— Susie Blann, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Next year’s preliminary budget shows the kingdom is willing to keep borrowing to bolster its defenses and build trade routes that bypass the Strait of Hormuz.

— Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of defenses

Verb

And in the full sentence that is a school, curricular interruptions are security threats to the accreditation evaluation that protects the bottom line.

— Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Despite the camp’s reprieve, which protects those housed there from possible forcible removal to Afghanistan, residents have little hope of being allowed to enter the United States.

— Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of protects

Noun

Chip heavyweight Nvidia is rolling out a new software platform that allows AI developers to set safeguards for agents to prevent them from misbehaving.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026
OpenAI CHief Executive Sam Altman has joined other industry leaders in calling for a slowdown, warning that companies do not yet have adequate safeguards to control the most capable systems.

— Thomas Beaumont, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of safeguards

Verb

Dolphins interior linemen like center Aaron Brewer and guards Kadyn Proctor and Jonah Savaiinaea could get matchups against seven-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Chris Jones.

— David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026
But neither Knox nor guards Malaki Branham and JD Davison, who both signed an Exhibit 10 with the Magic earlier this month, are eligible to sign a two-way contract.

— Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of guards

Noun

Its formula contains red algae extract, an antioxidant the brand says shields hair from pollution for up to 48 hours, and Olaplex’s signature bond-building technology, strengthening weak, overprocessed strands.

— Valeriya Chupinina, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2026
Cliches were wielded like shields Tuesday, protecting against the imminent threat of social clips construed as bulletin board material.

— Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of shields

Noun

Nearly all of the petitions involved revocable trusts, a common tool to allow a successor trustee to manage the settlor’s property long after their death.

— Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026
Legacy planning is more than just wills, trusts and beneficiary designations.

— Luis Miletti, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of trusts

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“Wards.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wards. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of wards

noun

verb

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