janitors

plural of janitor
1
as in custodians
a person who takes care of a property sometimes for an absent owner got a job as the night janitor at the elementary school

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2
as in porters
a person who tends a door according to popular Christian tradition, St. Peter acts as janitor at heaven's pearly gates

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 janitors Some hospital staff, like janitors and cafeteria workers, still make minimum wage. Cassie McGrath, Fortune, 19 June 2026 Twice a month, students, janitors, security guards and other school staff can come get a full bag of produce. Chris Wragge, CBS News, 12 June 2026 In 1952, the Sherskys closed Three Feathers and Q was left roaming Knoxville, selling to schoolteachers, promoters, and even janitors. Jonathan Rowe, SPIN, 1 June 2026 While teachers unions have gotten the most attention, the law also affects many other public sector unions, including those that represent bus drivers, janitors, cafeteria workers and maintenance workers. Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 24 May 2026 Participants included janitors, security officers, airport workers and stadium employees affiliated with SEIU-United Service Workers West, along with a coalition of labor unions, civil rights organizations, immigrant advocacy groups and faith leaders. City News Service, Daily News, 1 May 2026 Many Japanese elementary schools don’t have janitors, so the clean-up work is left to students. Stephen Wade, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026 The former series brought aliens to Earth; the latter followed two janitors accidentally launched into space. Carmel Dagan, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026 These outsourced workers received markedly lower wages than janitors who worked directly for Harvard. John Cassidy, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for janitors
Noun
  • Williams has never lacked interpreters, custodians, handlers, or rescuers with pruning shears.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 June 2026
  • Some custodians give checkbooks to IRA owners.
    Bob Carlson, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • There are so many people here, from chefs to line cooks to hosts, porters, and servers, working to make excellent food and special experiences that give us all a break from reality for a while.
    Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 2 July 2026
  • Kick back in a chill, industrial, dog-friendly taproom for a flight of beer—house brews include IPAs, porters, and classic European styles—and a few rounds of darts.
    Midwest Living, Midwest Living, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • Gill leads the keepers in defending the goal, followed by Gregor Kobel (Switzerland), Beiranvand, Diogo Costa (Portugal), Benjamin Asare (Ghana), Mostafa Shoubir (Egypt), Eloy Room (Curacao), Pickford, Vozinha, and Mohammed Alowais (Saudi Arabia).
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 June 2026
  • Born in a facility out West, Yonnie was about 3 months old when she and her companion bear, Kodiak, were flown to Charlotte to meet their new keepers, officials said.
    Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 27 June 2026
Noun
  • At least two Colorado prison wardens participated in a racist, homophobic group chat on both personal and work cellphones for years, prompting an internal investigation into their conduct that has stretched for 15 months.
    Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 29 June 2026
  • The juvenile bear’s wander across campus late Thursday and early Friday prompted an advisory to students and a search by UC Davis police and wardens from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife as well as Yolo County Animal Control.
    Allison Gibson, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2026
Noun
  • The congregation started to arrive at the usual time, about half an hour before Mass on a recent Saturday afternoon, the old church slowly filling with the descendants and caretakers of a place of great serenity but also great loss.
    Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • Over the weekend, however, caretakers observed a rapid decline in Makan’s condition.
    Reeti Malhotra July 1, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Janitors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/janitors. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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