1
as in defense
means or method of defending
frequent hand washing is an oft-recommended ward against the spread of common germs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in custody
responsibility for the safety and well-being of someone or something
gained the ward of his cousin upon the death of her parents
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to protect
to drive danger or attack away from
vowed that he would take whatever measures were necessary to ward the nation's people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ward
Rosemary Counter, Vanity Fair, 19 Jan. 2026
Inside hospitals, years of cost-cutting left wards brittle, supply chains thin, and no margin for surge.
—Jennifer W. Tsai, STAT, 18 Jan. 2026
David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
De Minaur had a chance to break with the score tied at 1-1, but Moutet warded him off.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 27 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ward
Noun
In the early 2010s, a British woman told a New Statesman journalist that her aunt was a midwife in 1940 when Mitford arrived in her ward.
—Rosemary Counter, Vanity Fair, 19 Jan. 2026
Inside hospitals, years of cost-cutting left wards brittle, supply chains thin, and no margin for surge.
—Jennifer W. Tsai, STAT, 18 Jan. 2026
Verb
Horror seems cathartic, or psychically protective—a safe ritual that admits the reality of violence and cruelty while also warding it off, like a ceremonial demon mask.
—David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
De Minaur had a chance to break with the score tied at 1-1, but Moutet warded him off.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 27 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ward
Noun
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In defense of the project, the developers say low-income housing is greatly needed in Placer County, and the population boom would support growth for local businesses.—
Ashley Sharp,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The Celtics opened with one of their most dominant quarters of the season, outscoring the Blazers 32-11 through balanced offense and smothering defense.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
With credit for time already served in custody, prosecutors said Weston will become eligible for parole about 16 years from now.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
3 Feb. 2026
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But actually arresting somebody and putting them in custody requires a much higher level of proof, which is probable cause.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As a recent Forbes analysis on AI and internal controls underscores, when technology reshapes how money moves, CFOs become responsible not just for managing risk, but for preserving the control structures that protect enterprise value.—
Geri Stengel,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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During Wednesday morning's hearing, the former detainees testified remotely from their home countries using translators and only their initials to protect their identities.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Each system can fire for only about 30 seconds before running out of ammunition at its lower firing rate.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Feb. 2026
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Russia even built an ammunition plant in Venezuela to produce cartridges for Kalashnikov rifles.—
Juan Pablo Spinetto,
Twin Cities,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Workers counter that the health giant can afford to boost wages, and that patients are already suffering from long wait times and subpar care because Kaiser does not offer competitive pay.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Through these consultations, individuals can speak directly with a care professional to better understand available support, resources, and next steps related to aging, care planning, and services.—
Kris Slugg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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One American star who will not be participating is four-time All-Star Kyle Tucker, who recently signed a four-year, $240 million deal with the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Rather than leave, community leaders rallied to defend the site, leading to the creation of Sakura Square and Tamai Tower on the block bounded by Larimer, 20th, Lawrence and 19th Streets.—
Jessica Alvarado Gamez,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Her lawsuit alleges that, as a fiduciary, Northern Trust had a legal duty to protect the assets in her trust estate by maintaining internal safeguards.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
30 Jan. 2026
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In the letter, Baker argued that sports prediction markets lack key safeguards found in traditional sports betting, including higher age restrictions and robust monitoring, and said those gaps have contributed to harassment of student-athletes.—
Sofia Chierchio,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But her mother guards her fiercely, because even the most minor imbalance in her small, cloistered world could bring the seizures back again.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
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After nearly two decades of on-off negotiations, the deal will pave the way for India to open up its vast and guarded market to free trade with the 27-nation EU, its biggest trading partner.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ward. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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