unguarded

adjective

un·​guard·​ed ˌən-ˈgär-dəd How to pronounce unguarded (audio)
Synonyms of unguardednext
1
: vulnerable to attack : unprotected
2
: free from guile or wariness : direct, incautious
unguarded remarks
unguardedly adverb
unguardedness noun

Synonyms of unguarded

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Examples of unguarded in a Sentence

I let the secret about the surprise party spill out in an unguarded moment. the swimming coach quickly regretted his unguarded comments about the young swimmer's limitations
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Another entrance was a few hundred yards down the road; this one was unguarded. — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 13 June 2026 Sheer rock walls loom on one side, while the other, which is largely unguarded, plunges to the narrow canyon below. — Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026 The ball hit the front of the rim, giving the unguarded Anunoby enough space to make one of the most spectacular plays in the Knicks’ franchise history. — Mark Medina, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026 The director's love for capturing real people moving, unguarded, can be seen as Washington's hostage negotiator talks things through with his team outside the bank. — Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for unguarded

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unguarded was circa 1593

Rhymes for unguarded

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Browse Nearby Words

unguard
unguarded
unguent
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Cite this Entry

“Unguarded.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unguarded. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

unguarded

adjective
un·​guard·​ed ˌən-ˈgärd-əd How to pronounce unguarded (audio)
1
: open to attack : unprotected
2
: not cautious : unwary
unguarded comments
unguardedly adverb
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