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
Relevance
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
Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Babies sick with the virus were forcibly separated from their parents and piled into cribs in crowded wards.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
In Chile, Yopo Díaz says, there is increasing discussion about the closure of maternity wards due to lower demand.
—Manuela Castro, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
Intensive care units and wards struggle to maintain safe staffing levels.
—Eugene Litvak, STAT, 27 Mar. 2026
Bedreldin Abduelnabi, who heads the activities of the humanitarian health care provider Alight in East Darfur and West Kordofan, said the strike damaged all of the hospital's wards, including emergency, medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and renal dialysis.
—Arkansas Online, 26 Mar. 2026
Within half an hour of the earthquake, 136 fires had erupted in twelve of Tokyo’s fifteen wards.
—Joshua Hammer, The New York Review of Books, 19 Mar. 2026
In individual interviews, all seven council members and the mayor agree that their political wards will feel the after-effects of the federal crackdown for months, if not years to come.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
Early voting for the 2026 Illinois primary expanded an additional 55 locations in Cook County Monday and opened across all 50 Chicago wards.
—Lauren Victory, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
Noun
The lots span 25 wards and are valued at $34 million, his administration said in a statement.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Babies sick with the virus were forcibly separated from their parents and piled into cribs in crowded wards.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
In Chile, Yopo Díaz says, there is increasing discussion about the closure of maternity wards due to lower demand.
—Manuela Castro, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
Intensive care units and wards struggle to maintain safe staffing levels.
—Eugene Litvak, STAT, 27 Mar. 2026
Bedreldin Abduelnabi, who heads the activities of the humanitarian health care provider Alight in East Darfur and West Kordofan, said the strike damaged all of the hospital's wards, including emergency, medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and renal dialysis.
—Arkansas Online, 26 Mar. 2026
Within half an hour of the earthquake, 136 fires had erupted in twelve of Tokyo’s fifteen wards.
—Joshua Hammer, The New York Review of Books, 19 Mar. 2026
In individual interviews, all seven council members and the mayor agree that their political wards will feel the after-effects of the federal crackdown for months, if not years to come.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
Early voting for the 2026 Illinois primary expanded an additional 55 locations in Cook County Monday and opened across all 50 Chicago wards.
—Lauren Victory, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wards
Noun
-
Unfortunately for humans, several of these chemical defenses can cause painful skin reactions.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Iran offers a concrete example of how fast the character of a campaign can change once air defenses begin to fail.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The resort also supports the South Caicos Heritage Foundation, which protects surrounding coral reefs and often spearheads community clean-up initiatives.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Say goodbye to soggy subs thanks to the Sub Sandwich Container, which protects your sandwich on the go.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Progressive lawmakers Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently introduced a bill to pause all new data center construction until federal guardrails and safeguards are instituted for workers, communities and the environment.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The Teamsters also secured additional job protections within the tentative deal including safeguards against AI-powered routing systems and bans on the use of autonomous vehicles.—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Prosecutors said the court issued an order preventing him from owning, possessing or having any animals in his care or custody.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Noah James, who plays Andrew, and Vanessa Benavente, who plays Mother Mary, both said the crew takes great care in making sure everything looks and feels authentic.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Dilley faces mounting scrutiny from immigration lawyers and advocates, who say children have struggled emotionally and physically in an environment where lights remain on around the clock and guards patrol.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Sophomore guards Elmarko Jackson and Jamari McDowell, both sophomores, emerged as reliable college rotation players in 2025-26.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Some protesters wearing shields and gas masks on the other side of a fence at the federal complex picked up the canisters and tossed them back at police.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Opening Day festivities in Cincinnati ended with a series of disturbances Thursday evening that prompted police armed with nonlethal shotguns, pepper spray and riot shields to shut down The Banks and send hundreds of revelers home early.—
David Ferrara,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The durable and velvety soft tanning mitt is designed to keep self tanner off your palms and hands.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
But replays showed the ball was still in his hands as time expired.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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For people living along the coast, sand also defends against intense storms and sea level rise fueled by climate change.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Prosecutor defends plea agreement Two men accused of firing shots after the 2024 Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory rally are still awaiting trial.—
Jack Harvel,
Kansas City Star,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wards.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wards. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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