1
as in custodians
a person or group that watches over someone or something
the inexperienced babysitter turned out to be a well-meaning but hopelessly incompetent watcher of young children
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in observers
someone who sees or watches something
a safari that affords wildlife watchers plenty of opportunities to see Africa's grandest creatures in their natural habitat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of watchers
Market watchers will be keeping an eye on the developments in Iran this week after widespread protests were met with a violent crackdown by the Iranian authorities.
—
Tasmin Lockwood,hugh Leask,holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 12 Jan. 2026
Rubio sat on the board of the International Republican Institute, which provided training to fledgling democracies, teaching candidates how to campaign and poll watchers how to observe elections.
—Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Fed watchers say Trump’s attacks on the institution could make officials who are on the fence about a rate cut reluctant to be seen as doing the president’s bidding.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
The most notable person not included on the shortlist is Brazilian actor Wagner Moura for The Secret Agent, who Oscar watchers think will be nominated for Best Actor.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
Downtown property owners and market watchers differ on the ease and scale with which the towers can be converted.
—Nick Wooten, Dallas Morning News, 9 Jan. 2026
Legal observers are neutral, non-participating watchers who often attend police actions to witness, document and monitor law enforcement behavior.
—George Petras, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
For weeks leading up to Middleton’s 2011 wedding to Prince William and Meghan Markle’s 2018 wedding to Prince Harry, royal watchers speculated if either bride would wear their late mother-in-law’s bridal tiara.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 8 Jan. 2026
Industry watchers speculate that 2026 could be the year that de La Faverie will want to make his mark by acquiring an asset.
—Footwear News, 6 Jan. 2026
Tasmin Lockwood,hugh Leask,holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 12 Jan. 2026
Rubio sat on the board of the International Republican Institute, which provided training to fledgling democracies, teaching candidates how to campaign and poll watchers how to observe elections.
—Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Fed watchers say Trump’s attacks on the institution could make officials who are on the fence about a rate cut reluctant to be seen as doing the president’s bidding.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
The most notable person not included on the shortlist is Brazilian actor Wagner Moura for The Secret Agent, who Oscar watchers think will be nominated for Best Actor.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
Downtown property owners and market watchers differ on the ease and scale with which the towers can be converted.
—Nick Wooten, Dallas Morning News, 9 Jan. 2026
Legal observers are neutral, non-participating watchers who often attend police actions to witness, document and monitor law enforcement behavior.
—George Petras, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
For weeks leading up to Middleton’s 2011 wedding to Prince William and Meghan Markle’s 2018 wedding to Prince Harry, royal watchers speculated if either bride would wear their late mother-in-law’s bridal tiara.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 8 Jan. 2026
Industry watchers speculate that 2026 could be the year that de La Faverie will want to make his mark by acquiring an asset.
—Footwear News, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watchers
Noun
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Island custodians began restoring the vegetation in the 1960s—work that continues in the resort’s nursery.—
Susan Casey,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
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And fans end up getting to talk about their team like fans, not custodians of some dusty historical archive nobody wants to visit.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
3 Jan. 2026
Noun
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But videos captured by other observers and members of the public show an ICE agent approaching a Honda Pilot that was stopped on a snowy road and ordering the driver — later identified as Good — to open the door before grabbing the handle.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
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Federal agents have been taking in several protesters and observers.—
Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The organization also wants to increase public awareness on the issue and guidance for parents and guardians navigating these cosmetic decisions with their teenagers — especially when there's so much uninformed information on social media.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
31 Dec. 2025
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Both are guardians, both are thieves.—
Stuart Miller,
Oc Register,
22 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The video quickly went viral, reaching over 2 million views with many viewers assuming the image was authentic.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
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Footage of the shooting has divided viewers, with finger-pointing over who was the aggressor and who was the victim.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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President Bernardo Arévalo issued an emergency declaration after prisoners took 43 guards hostage, killing 10 officers.—
Ashley J. DiMella,
FOXNews.com,
20 Jan. 2026
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Twenty-seven women were forced into a small holding cell after spending hours cuffed and chained on a bus where guards refused to give them food, water, or access to a toilet, according to USA Today; they were told to urinate on the floor.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2026
Noun
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After a moment of silence, some spectators shouted out, condemning ICE’s presence in Minneapolis.—
Julia Ainsley,
NBC news,
9 Jan. 2026
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The safety and security of athletes and spectators remains the top priority of LA28 organizers, a spokesperson for the upcoming games said in an email.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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These keepers of all the knowledge and wisdom humans have gathered as parents are right in front of us—no smart phone required.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
10 Dec. 2025
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Prosecutors called a series of record keepers whose brief testimony bolstered their claim that there is no evidence Ana Walshe left on her own from the family’s Massachusetts home after January 1, 2023, when she was last seen alive celebrating the New Year.—
Lauren del Valle,
CNN Money,
4 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Since at least last Wednesday, wardens have been searching the Jefferson Hills area for a deer with a jug on its head.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
25 Nov. 2025
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Forest wardens walk into Kyebi Forest Reserve in the East Akim Municipal district in Ghana.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Watchers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watchers. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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