1
as in keepers
a person who takes care of a property sometimes for an absent owner
the custodian made his usual rounds of the building to make sure that everything was OK
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2
as in guardians
a person or group that watches over someone or something
served as custodian of the prisoner until he could be turned over to federal authorities
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in defenders
someone that protects
we must regard ourselves as custodians of the Earth so that its natural resources may be enjoyed by many generations to come
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of custodians
Pricing structures vary between dealers, retirement-account transactions often require coordination with custodians and storage providers, and purchases frequently involve direct interaction with company representatives.
—
Roxanne Downer, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
But details of the city’s budget process show all sides had a hand in making the decisions that led to the custodians getting laid off.
—Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
The union noted that SEIU Local 1021, which represents school clerks and custodians, has also called a sympathy strike.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
The first stop was Melin Tregwynt, a historic woolen mill founded in 1841 that is still one of the most influential custodians of the Welsh textile tradition.
—Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 5 Feb. 2026
The board also approved cutting positions at multiple school sites, including assistant principals, high school teachers, special education specialists, custodians and secretaries, as well as the district’s only communications director.
—Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026
Local 99 members include bus drivers, teacher aides, special-education assistants, custodians and food service workers.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
The first move by its latest custodians was a $NZ 25 million (approximately $14 million) makeover for the famed lodge.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
Your Kansas tax dollars pay for salaries of state employees, from university chancellors and aerospace researchers to prison guards and custodians.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 29 Jan. 2026
Roxanne Downer, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
But details of the city’s budget process show all sides had a hand in making the decisions that led to the custodians getting laid off.
—Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
The union noted that SEIU Local 1021, which represents school clerks and custodians, has also called a sympathy strike.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
The first stop was Melin Tregwynt, a historic woolen mill founded in 1841 that is still one of the most influential custodians of the Welsh textile tradition.
—Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 5 Feb. 2026
The board also approved cutting positions at multiple school sites, including assistant principals, high school teachers, special education specialists, custodians and secretaries, as well as the district’s only communications director.
—Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026
Local 99 members include bus drivers, teacher aides, special-education assistants, custodians and food service workers.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
The first move by its latest custodians was a $NZ 25 million (approximately $14 million) makeover for the famed lodge.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
Your Kansas tax dollars pay for salaries of state employees, from university chancellors and aerospace researchers to prison guards and custodians.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for custodians
Noun
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From 1883 to 1977, opulent trains operated under this banner throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, inspiring Agatha Christie’s titular 1934 mystery, along with legions of bucket-list-keepers for whom the trains represent the ne plus ultra of glamorous, old-school travel.—
Adam Erace,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Feb. 2026
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Nonprofit associations provide the option to apply online to aid a variety of lighthouses with maintenance, acting as docents and staying overnight as volunteer keepers.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But parents and guardians can enroll now by filling out Form 4547 through the IRS when filing their tax returns.—
Lisa Hagen,
Hartford Courant,
11 Feb. 2026
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Students were transported to Bear Creek Middle School, where they could be be picked up by parents or guardians.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Having a dominant interior presence who draws extra defenders, Thomas said, could do wonders for a scorer wired to attack gaps.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
9 Feb. 2026
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Seattle has four different defenders who recorded 50-plus pressures this season, including defensive tackles Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy II (seven sacks apiece).—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Eight Democratic candidates appeared at a forum sponsored by SEIU United Service Workers West, which represents more than 45,000 janitors, security officers, airport service employees and other workers in California.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Jan. 2026
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Its member organizations include SEIU Healthcare and Locals 1 and 73, representing workers across various industries, including janitors, child care workers, and private security officers and doormen.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The team’s mean average height is 6-foot-4 due to the notable shortness of main rotation guards Tre Jones (6-foot-1) and Rob Dillingham (6-foot-2) and two-way guards Yuki Kawamura (5-foot-7) and Mac McClung (6-foot-2).—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
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The team is paying a ton of money to starting guards Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt, so Zavala’s only avenue for playing time is as backup insurance.—
Mike Kaye
February 10,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Some screen protectors can also dampen whatever color benefits CoE tech produces.—
Janhoi McGregor,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Because both operate better as income protectors versus income producers, experts recommend limiting the precious metal portion of your portfolio to a maximum of 10%.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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This week, caretakers released the bird once more and stood on the beach as the western snowy plover took flight over waves that crashed against the sandy coastline.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Feb. 2026
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The case alleges that Doe’s caretakers force-fed her in the days leading up to the visit.—
Jane Borden,
Rolling Stone,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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According to wardens, a team of trackers spotted the twins on Saturday, with monitoring and protection measures in force to increase their chances of survival.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
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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
“Custodians.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/custodians. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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