guards 1 of 2

plural of guard
1
2
as in defensives
a position of readiness to oppose actual or expected attack be on your guard against snakes in the swamp

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in locks
a protective device (as on a weapon) to prevent accidental operation slid the guard into place over the chainsaw chain

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
5
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

6

guards

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of guard

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
His father, a former military officer, was imprisoned following the Iranian revolution until his mother was able to negotiate his release with prison guards, according to reporting by the New York Times. Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025 Lily Mathé, one of the orchestra’s best violinists, vividly remembered being made to play jolly tunes in the SS officers’ mess at Auschwitz every evening while the guards ate their dinner. Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025 The knives are dishwasher-safe, have an anti-rust coating and come with blade guards to ensure safe storage. Nora Colomer May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 16 Sep. 2025 The rules also sought to ensure that transgender people could bathe separately and that the guards who monitored them were given specialty training. Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 16 Sep. 2025 One client reported saving on security costs within the first year, simply by replacing on-site guards with remote monitoring. Sixteen Ramos, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2025 Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young often doesn't have the spotlight despite being one of the best guards in the NBA. Richard Pereira, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025 Bolsonaro is under house arrest, surrounded by guards to prevent him from fleeing to a foreign embassy to request asylum. Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2025 The latter option is particularly tantalizing because both guards offer valuable skills that could help a playoff hopeful be even more formidable in 2025-26. Mat Issa, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
However, the win was a team effort as forward Brianna Turner (four points, six rebounds), forward Mikayla Timpson (nine points), guards Shey Peddy, Lexie Hull, and Aerial Powers brought the defensive energy and physicality that Indiana desperately needed. Allison Smith, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025 The entrance to the building is always locked, and at least one officer guards the stairway down to the safes, where advanced securities are in place, including a fingerprint and iris scanner and an electronic key card reader. Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025 The water-resistant outer material guards your essentials against splashes, while elastic straps and multiple pockets help keep your bottles upright. Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2025 Injury report Rams guards Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson did not practice Wednesday with their ankle sprains, though McVay did not close the door on either of them playing Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 11 Sep. 2025 Other players of note include offensive/defensive tackle Stacy Peck, running back Joe Pullio, guards Evan Murphy and Braden Delisle, and safety Parker Delong. Erik Anderson, Boston Herald, 4 Sep. 2025 Russell Westbrook #4 of the Washington Wizards guards Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter at Wells Fargo Center on January 06, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025 After inciting rage on both sides of the aisle, spurring conversations about private equity ruining fun, and generally being the internet’s main character (derogatory) for a week, the restaurant has brought back their barrel and the old man who guards it. Bethy Squires, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2025 There were also guards Sydney Colson (torn ACL) and Aari McDonald (foot fracture) who both suffered season-ending injuries. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guards
Noun
  • Game wardens responded to the scene and fatally shot the animal, officials said.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2025
  • As for the bear, two wardens with AGFC responded to the scene and found the animal still in the area.
    Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But within the romantic tropes, Sheeran expresses feelings beyond falling in love with someone’s eyes and smile, instead embracing flaws (clothes strewn about the house) and habits (checking the door locks before bedtime).
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
  • This small step locks in extra hydration and has made a huge difference in my routine.
    Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Adopting a Zero Trust security model not only hardens defenses but also enables digital business innovation by ensuring that new services are built on a trustworthy foundation, boosting user confidence and adoption.
    Durga Krishnamoorthy, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Israeli fighter jets launched ballistic missiles from the Red Sea to strike Hamas leaders in Qatar on September 9, in a move that bypassed regional air defenses and avoided crossing into Middle Eastern airspace.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Close enough to feel, far enough that our guides only laughed.
    Daniel Scheffler, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Calling on your spirit guides, guardian angels, or ancestors?
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Now, with some help from the defenders behind them, Cleveland’s pitchers have paved the way for a last-gasp run at a playoff spot.
    Zack Meisel, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The city has become a fortress, and Ukrainian defenders are doing everything possible to prevent it from falling.
    David Kirichenko, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The agency said vaccination within the first day of birth, followed by two-to-three additional doses, protects children for life.
    Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
  • The truth of conservatism lies elsewhere, in the unshakeable principles that the dispensable litany of professed ideals protects.
    Allan J. Lichtman, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Road blockades, traffic slowdowns and other protests were widespread – from the southern port city of Marseille to Lille and Caen in the north, and from Nantes and Rennes in the west to Grenoble and Lyon in the southeast.
    Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Two centuries ago, the Litunga (king) turned what had been his private hunting grounds over to his people as custodians.
    Mazuba Kapambwe, AFAR Media, 10 Sep. 2025
  • From ETFs pulling in tens of billions to companies adding bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to their balance sheets, demand for trusted custodians is set to accelerate.
    Marie Poteriaieva, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Guards.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guards. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.

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