watchman

noun

ˈwäch-mən How to pronounce watchman (audio)
Definition of watchmannext
1
as in custodian
a person or group that watches over someone or something hired a watchman to patrol the factory at night

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in keeper
a person who takes care of a property sometimes for an absent owner a watchman lives next door to scare off prowlers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 watchman Fiddlers played at the street corners and watchmen called out the hour of the day. — Danny Heitman, Christian Science Monitor, 22 July 2026 Francis Ford Coppola meditates on the question of who is watching the watchmen in The Conversation, a neo-noir mystery thriller about the human side of surveillance. — Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 6 June 2026 Nearly 1,400 votes were cast for Elgin High School’s new mascot, with 558 for a lion, 421 for watchmen/timekeepers and 417 for a fox, according to information provided by Principal Avelira Rodriguez Gonzalez. — Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2026 Ideas like reparative journalism and sousveillance — an antonym for surveillance, concerning watching the watchmen in a reversal of power — earn fleeting mentions, but are never the focus of actual inquiry. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for watchman
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watchman
  1. custodian
  2. keeper
  3. guard
  4. janitor
  5. guardian
  6. warden
  7. sentinel
  8. caretaker
Noun
  • The California State University system reached a tentative agreement with the CSU Employees Union, which represents about 14,500 staff including custodians, nurses and IT specialists.
    — The Sacramento Bee staff, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Two days later, the custodian provided nine documents and forwarded 11 emails from the city clerk.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of custodian
Noun
  • That ended a 144-minute scoreless streak for Angel City keeper Angelina Anderson.
    — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Meanwhile, Texas State scored a touchdown on all three of its drives that ended in the quarter, including a 67-yard touchdown pass and a 35-yard keeper from Bobcats QB Brad Jackson.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of keeper
Noun
  • The former Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley recently pleaded guilty to manipulating his prop bets.
    — New Yorker, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2026
  • He was shot during the police chase and is under constant police guard, but has not yet been formally detained because of his medical condition, law enforcement said.
    — Dragana Jovanovic, ABC News, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of guard
Noun
  • An aide to Kennedy reportedly paid a janitor with the same name to enter the race.
    — Drew Kurlowski, The Conversation, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Eventually, an airport janitor grabbed the bird with her shirt.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of janitor
Noun
  • That's because their potential guardians get detained themselves or are afraid or unable to complete the sponsorship process.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • This may mean removing an abusive parent as their guardian and establishing another relative or foster parent in place of the parent.
    — Sasha Allen, Hartford Courant, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of guardian
Noun
  • Clark, the warden said, later called and said Castro didn’t have a weapon.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Wasson, by contrast, kicks off by quoting three letters from prisoners in San Quentin, from 1947, addressed to the warden.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of warden
Noun
  • The vast Puya de Raimondi forest is on your doorstep, where thousands of giant bromeliads—the largest on the planet—rise like sentinels over the highlands.
    — Luke Abrahams, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Tuna are also ecologically important apex predators and serve as sentinels of ocean health.
    — Torben Rick, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of sentinel
Noun
  • Until a coalition is formed, Netanyahu, who has served 19 years over three tenures as prime minister, remains the head of a caretaker government.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Eudora and Alice were both caretakers for their families, which would interrupt their writing at different times in their lives, and their correspondence would often lament such things.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of caretaker

Browse Nearby Words

watching over
watchman
watchmen
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Cite this Entry

“Watchman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watchman. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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