GUARDS Synonyms: 130 Similar and Opposite Words

guards 1 of 2

noun

plural of guard

as in wardens

a person or group that watches over someone or something checked in with the security guard at the gate

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as in defensives

a position of readiness to oppose actual or expected attack be on your guard against snakes in the swamp

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offensives

as in locks

a protective device (as on a weapon) to prevent accidental operation slid the guard into place over the chainsaw chain

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as in defenses

means or method of defending the boxer's sparring partner managed to get a blow in under his left guard

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as in guides

one that accompanies another for protection, guidance, or as a courtesy the honor guards raised their sabers as the happy couple descended the church steps

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as in defenders

someone that protects a battalion of burly guards surrounding the celebrity

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guards

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of guard

as in protects

to drive danger or attack away from guard the quarterback so he doesn't get sacked

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as in blockades

to disallow entry into (a place) by means of a physical barrier at the entry point a fire-breathing dragon guarded the entrance to the castle

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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 guards

Noun

Lady Justice appeared bound and under surveillance, with prison guards surrounding her before the entire world began to crumble. — Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026 Students sitting with arms linked at the elbows could only see in shards through a picket of shin guards, restricting their view of the area where classmates and roommates were dragged one by one and zip-tied face down on the spring grass. — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026 Always use window screens and chimney caps, and install draft-guards beneath attic doors. — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 As a determined floor correspondent at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, he was knocked down on camera by security guards while trying to interview a Georgia delegate whom the guards were removing from the convention floor. — Walter Podrazik, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026 Its first chief, Wang Dongxing, was one of Mao personal guards. — Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026 On weekend nights, Combs would reportedly break into a secret stash of top-shelf liquor allegedly smuggled into the prison by guards and shared with a small circle of inmates. — Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026 The experiment selected 24 students and randomly assigned them as prisoners or guards. — Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2026 The Heat opted to move forward with filling its roster this week instead of plotting a pursuit of the available veteran free agents, a group including guards D’Angelo Russell, Gabe Vincent and Ryan Nembhard. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026

Verb

Klaatu's giant robot sidekick, Gort, then steps out of the vessel, obliterates a load of firearms with his laser eyes, and silently guards the ship as his master is taken to hospital. — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026 But with Smith now sidelined, Heat rookie guards Tre Donaldson and Ryan Conwell will have an opportunity to play a bigger role in practices and in games this preseason. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026 Aces guards Jewell Loyd and Jackie Young gestured toward officials and security personnel while pointing out attendees sitting in the front row. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026 Thybulle — a two-time NBA All-Defensive team honoree — guards Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton and forward Ziaire Williams are expected to be among the new faces responsible for taking the Lakers’ defense to the next level. — Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026 The router comes with Advanced Router Protection which guards your router, as well as a 30-day trial for Netgear Armor Security. — George Yang, PC Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026 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 Anthropic closely guards its training data sources, but music publishers think the court should require more transparency. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for guards

Noun

According to the post, Kentucky State Police Aviation saw smoke in the area, and wardens and search and rescue personnel were able to access the location, near the headwaters of Cave Run Lake, using a boat.

— Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Sep. 2026
Game wardens did arrest nine people across Georgia for boating under the influence, the majority of whom were at Lake Lanier.

— Dan Raby, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of wardens

Noun

Crisis responders are passing out gun locks in the South Deering neighborhood after a 4-year-old boy was shot inside a home on Tuesday.

— Asal Rezaei, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
The front door locks at night, but there is always a staff member at the desk to buzz you in and greet you with a smile.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of locks

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

Noun

The service From the general manager to the guides and the chefs–everyone is warm, professional and extremely capable.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
With both Better Homes & Gardens and Woman & Home publishing explainers, the term is primed to migrate into big-box home sections, subscription boxes and gift guides over the next holiday cycle.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of guides

Noun

Infrastructure issues, higher insurance costs Even if residents don’t like the price tag, defenders of the emergency fees told Grace that long-standing infrastructure issues must be addressed.

— Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Chop Robinson played 50 snaps, had a sack and eight QB pressures and rated fifth of 17 Dolphins defenders.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of defenders

Verb

There's no question that the United States has a credible threat of force, but the blockade really blockades ourselves as well as Iran.

— ABC News, ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
As the United States military blockades the Strait of Hormuz fuel prices rose above $100 dollars a barrel.

— Contessa Brewer,Dawn Giel, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026