sentinel

noun

ˈsent-nəl How to pronounce sentinel (audio)
Definition of sentinelnext
as in guardian
a person or group that watches over someone or something a lone sentinel kept watch over the fort

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 sentinel Here and there, fire, wind, and flood would have broken the forest into a mosaic of old and new, grass and forest, shrubs and sentinels. — Literary Hub, 10 June 2026 Dozens of health organizations and research groups have formed an independent surveillance network to track the presence of dangerous pathogens in community wastewater—a sentinel for potential outbreaks. — Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 10 June 2026 Of all of them, the sentinel suites are undoubtedly one of my favorite places in the world. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026 Corkie putting the snake into the tub looks like the sentinels or the wire going into people’s pods. — Nick Newman, IndieWire, 1 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for sentinel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sentinel
  1. guardian
  2. guard
  3. custodian
  4. warden
  5. keeper
  6. sentry
Noun
  • Health insurers, meanwhile, are tasked with being guardians of the health care dollar and master negotiators.
    — Bob Herman, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Given that Chuy García continued to serve out his term despite the health issues his wife is experiencing and his new responsibilities as guardian of his grandchild, the other explanation does not hold water.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of guardian
Noun
  • Suamataia didn’t start at left guard on the offensive line for the Chiefs in their AFC West showdown with the Raiders.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Turns out, since Proctor has been a major catalyst in the run game, routinely moving defensive tackles at guard, there’s some thought that guard, and not tackle, might be his future home.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of guard
Noun
  • The suspect, a 15-year-old former student, attacked the school's principal, a custodian and a teacher with a sharp object.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Undeath have signed with those custodians of heavy music over at Relapse and debuted a new song for the label.
    — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of custodian
Noun
  • Hosfelt was among nine staff members, including the former warden, arrested in June 2024 and charged with felonies in connection with deaths at the prison.
    — Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Luckily — or maybe unluckily — the camp’s warden, a hardbitten guy with an oily smile named Clancy (Russell Crowe, hardbitten, smiley, and oily), takes a liking to Murphy.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of warden
Noun
  • That drive started with a Mariota keeper around the left end that went for 35 yards.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The Crisis Manager This is the keeper of all things calm, the soothing presence when things get a bit too much.
    — Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of keeper
Noun
  • And Ric Salinas, who plays Chachalacani, humorously obliges, bringing his Culture Clash vaudeville skills to the role of the sentry who’s caught between the rock of Klion’s tyranny and his fellow feeling for Antíkona’s sympathetic cause.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Instead, Hongqi said the solar roof could help supply lower-voltage electrical loads, including air conditioning, refrigerators and the vehicle’s sentry or monitoring systems.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of sentry

Browse Nearby Words

sentiments
sentinel
sentinels
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Cite this Entry

“Sentinel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sentinel. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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