1
as in outspoken
free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions
the swimming coach quickly regretted his unguarded comments about the young swimmer's limitations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in vulnerable
lacking protection from danger or resistance against attack
an unguarded gate that would later prove to be the fatal weakness in the city's defenses
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in careless
not paying or showing close attention especially for the purpose of avoiding trouble
in an unguarded moment I let my mind wander and smashed my car into a tree
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 unguarded
Sporting a full beard and an American Cinematheque hat, a smiling, reflective and unguarded LaBeouf was joined by O’Neil for what turned out to be an hour-long conversation peppered with compliments and affection.
—
Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025
Haim is unusually good at pairing confessional lyrics with propulsive, playful rhythms, making unguarded music that also feels optimistic.
—Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 18 June 2025
Detection also tends to focus narrowly on audio, leaving video and messaging—critical components in multimodal attacks—largely unguarded.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
McNeeley drilled 43 percent of his unguarded catch-and-shoot 3s for UConn.
—Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unguarded
Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025
Haim is unusually good at pairing confessional lyrics with propulsive, playful rhythms, making unguarded music that also feels optimistic.
—Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 18 June 2025
Detection also tends to focus narrowly on audio, leaving video and messaging—critical components in multimodal attacks—largely unguarded.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
McNeeley drilled 43 percent of his unguarded catch-and-shoot 3s for UConn.
—Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unguarded
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unguarded
Adjective
-
The outspoken tech tycoon has made waves across the government with his new Department of Government Efficiency, which has slashed jobs and forced employees back into the office.—
Beck Andrew Salgado,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
-
Scherzer, one of the most outspoken players in the league, was a member of the MLBPA’s eight-player subcommittee, a group that unanimously rejected the current collective bargaining agreement more than three years ago.—
Brittany Ghiroli,
New York Times,
30 July 2025
Adjective
-
Because age is the highest risk factor, Florida’s large senior population is especially vulnerable.—
Kim Praitano,
Sun Sentinel,
29 July 2025
-
Meanwhile, small businesses have less power and influence on trade policy— and are often more vulnerable to the impacts of tariffs.—
Vanessa Yurkevich,
CNN Money,
29 July 2025
Adjective
-
Proof Carefully To Show Professionalism And Attention To Detail What gets my negative attention are résumés with careless errors—typos, missing words and inconsistent formatting.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
-
Social media erupted in fear, and disgust, or simply threw shame his way for being careless.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
This is a great way to spot medical fraud or an honest human error like a miscoding of services.—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
-
And this all starts by surrounding yourself with forward-thinking partners who put your best interest at heart, and who put honest assessment of your needs ahead of racking up a big sale on the trend du jour.—
Tim Ringel,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
Adjective
-
Alligator Alcatraz, which sits inside Big Cypress National Preserve, is susceptible to a hurricane strike from nearly any direction.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Aug. 2025
-
Not to mention, antibiotics aren’t always effective at killing drug-resistant bugs, and each UTI leaves you more susceptible to future infections, creating a vicious cycle.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
In July, the city construction board declared the house an unsafe structure and gave the owners five days to fix the situation.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
25 July 2025
-
Playing in unsafe heat can cause immense stress to the body.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
25 July 2025
Adjective
-
The shock of that question may yield a candid answer.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
1 Aug. 2025
-
In a candid conversation, the actor unpacks character building, creative freedom, and the importance of playing roles that resonate.—
Essence,
Essence,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
When employees bring problems to their leaders, a dangerous dynamic often emerges, one that turns capable professionals into helpless children and transforms managers into overbearing parents.—
Mark Murphy,
Forbes.com,
30 July 2025
-
For the first time in his life, the great shark couldn’t swim freely and, panic-stricken, bolted clear of his world and there was only emptiness, and his tail and pectoral fins were helpless in the void.—
Pat Smith,
Outdoor Life,
24 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unguarded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unguarded. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share