as in title
either one of the words that are at the top of a page in a dictionary or similar book and that show the first and last words on the page
It is easiest to use the guide words to find the page for the word you are looking up.
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Recent Examples of guide word
The Standing Rock movement’s guiding words, Mni Wiconi (water is life) meant more than clean water advocacy.
—
Natasha Lennard, Esquire, 19 Sep. 2017
Natasha Lennard, Esquire, 19 Sep. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guide word
Noun
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In some ways it was set up to fail from the moment those infamous quotation marks around the title were revealed; an attempt by Fennell to get ahead of the very criticisms that have been published this week.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
12 Feb. 2026
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The Hornets went 80-19 and won four CIF San Diego Section championships and three state titles in Carter’s time on the Lincoln staff.—
John Maffei,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Financing and production banner Jovera Pictures has hired former eOne Vice President of Film Rainer Grupe to its team.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
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So what has gone wrong at a program that has not finished with a losing record since 2010, and that has hung a Big Ten title banner in four of the previous five seasons?—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Guide word.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guide%20word. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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