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
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
Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 29 Sep. 2025
In rural counties, maternity wards have already closed.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Earlier this year, the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, stepped up immigration enforcement, deploying police officers to dozens of maternity wards in the country.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
The final results, accepted by the Boston Election Commission on Monday, also led to Wu, Kraft and Cappucci picking up votes in the partial recount, which encompassed five of the city’s 22 wards.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 22 Sep. 2025
Early this year, The San Diego Union-Tribune disclosed scores of lawsuits filed by former wards of county juvenile detention programs operated by the Probation Department.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Sep. 2025
So far, one of Washington's eight wards has accepted the Guard's help to help with running a soup kitchen.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
Critics of the current format argue that the current system reduces the influence of voters in the individual wards, especially residents of the city's poorer neighborhoods.
—Arkansas Online, 2 Sep. 2025
Under direct presidential authority, Guard members have been posted to monuments, checkpoints and traffic stops across all eight wards, with a mission of deterring crime and maintaining a visible security presence.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
There are a total of 99 congregations, 62 of them wards, and 37 are branches, which is a smaller congregation than the larger wards.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 29 Sep. 2025
In rural counties, maternity wards have already closed.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Earlier this year, the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, stepped up immigration enforcement, deploying police officers to dozens of maternity wards in the country.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
The final results, accepted by the Boston Election Commission on Monday, also led to Wu, Kraft and Cappucci picking up votes in the partial recount, which encompassed five of the city’s 22 wards.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 22 Sep. 2025
Early this year, The San Diego Union-Tribune disclosed scores of lawsuits filed by former wards of county juvenile detention programs operated by the Probation Department.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Sep. 2025
So far, one of Washington's eight wards has accepted the Guard's help to help with running a soup kitchen.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
Critics of the current format argue that the current system reduces the influence of voters in the individual wards, especially residents of the city's poorer neighborhoods.
—Arkansas Online, 2 Sep. 2025
Under direct presidential authority, Guard members have been posted to monuments, checkpoints and traffic stops across all eight wards, with a mission of deterring crime and maintaining a visible security presence.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wards
Noun
-
Early research suggests its antioxidant defenses may support healthy cholesterol, blood sugar regulation, and gut health, but studies are still limited.—
Caitlin Pagán,
Verywell Health,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Barkley has faced two of the league’s top run defenses over the past two weeks, so now would be the time to make offers.—
Dalton Del Don,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Toby, a towering tan tapeworm sculpture, greets employees at the front door to promote Elanco's Credelio Quattro medicine, which protects dogs against fleas, ticks and tapeworms.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The munition can also be diverted mid-flight if battlefield conditions change — a feature that commanders say minimizes collateral damage and protects soldiers.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
At the same time, the pushback from critics highlights that there is still debate about whether these safeguards go far enough.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
While framed as satire, the content references child exploitation, raising questions about the adequacy of Sora 2’s safeguards.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Late public school buses and needing to take care of an occasionally sick child, along with at capacity or costly child care centers, contributed to her precarious employment.—
Elizabeth B. Kim,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Oct. 2025
-
While the exact date of the ownership change is still unknown, operations will shift under the United Community Center — including a new age cap of 3 years for on-campus care and a schedule that no longer aligns with Alverno’s academic breaks.—
Gina Lee Castro,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That second tier of the East, the one the Pistons are hoping to join, is ripe for the Magic, a tough-minded, young team that already guards like one of the NBA’s elite.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
This coating guards the grapes against bacteria and fungi.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The land changed hands as developers pitched grand ideas to no avail.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Switzerland, like Germany, built its 20th-century industrial economy on training and valuing all types of workers—those that work with their hands and those that work at a desk.—
Peter Vanham,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This pledge erases dissenting Israeli voices, legitimizes falsehoods, and shields Hamas from blame.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Instead of protecting a brain, the system shields the drone’s electronic components, motor, and propeller.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The pavilion’s interior was reminiscent of a military entertainment bar, with a dim red light, two screens placed on opposite walls, and a couple of microphones standing in the middle.—
Joanna Warsza,
Artforum,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Diners enjoyed autumn chicory salad and seared filet mignon in the soft glow of the lights illuminating the temple’s Aeolian sandstone walls and snapped wrist shots against the backdrop of the reflecting pool, meant to evoke the West Bank of the Nile.—
Victoria Gomelsky,
Robb Report,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wards.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wards. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share