guardian

noun

ˈgär-dē-ən How to pronounce guardian (audio)
Definition of guardiannext
1
as in custodian
a person or group that watches over someone or something the state became his guardian when he was put into protective custody

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2
as in keeper
a person who takes care of a property sometimes for an absent owner the guardians of the summer estate awaited the return of the tycoon

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3
as in protector
someone that protects the editor defended his newspaper's unrelenting exposure of government corruption, arguing that it is journalism's role to act as a guardian of democracy

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4
as in caregiver
a person who has responsibility for the care of another when her parents died, her aunt became her legal guardian

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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 guardian Small business owners who are minors must have the approval of a parent or legal guardian. — CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026 ChatGPT is intended for users age 13 and older, and users under 18 need permission from a parent or guardian to use it, OpenAI said. — Marc Levy, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026 Corniel’s new settlement does not resolve separate wrongful death claims brought on behalf of Drakeo’s young son, Caiden Caldwell, by the child’s guardian. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2026 OpenAI told the Idaho Statesman in an email that ChatGPT is intended for users age 13 and older, with users under 18 needing permission from a parent or guardian to create an account. — Harllie Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for guardian
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guardian
  1. custodian
  2. keeper
  3. protector
  4. caregiver
  5. guard
  6. warden
  7. defender
  8. caretaker
Noun
  • Some of the firm’s most successful investments included decentralized exchange Uniswap and crypto custodian Anchorage Digital.
    — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • She’s worked as an evidence custodian, and then as a deputy, and has served in a variety of roles, like as a detective, crime scene evidence technician and field training officer.
    — Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of custodian
Noun
  • But just as meaningful - if not more so - is witnessing the increasing volume of players who seem like keepers.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Then the Wildcats raced down the field on only five plays to up it to 14-3, scoring on Chiles' keeper.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of keeper
Noun
  • The 6-foot-7 junior center quickly established herself as one of the nation’s best rim protectors after transferring in from Kentucky last season.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Mixing puppetry, live theater and Indigenous percussion, the production turns familiar bogeymen into protectors while asking audiences to reconsider who — and what — poses the real danger.
    — Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of protector
Noun
  • This evolved into The ROS1ders, a global group of patients and caregivers that seeks to improve outcomes for all ROS1+ cancers through community, education, and research.
    — STAT Staff, STAT, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Scott pointed to legislative efforts to support unpaid caregivers, who collectively face billions of dollars in economic and personal strain.
    — Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of caregiver
Noun
  • But with the Heat in search of offense and outside shooting, Heat rookie guard Ryan Conwell was called on to play the first meaningful minutes of his NBA career.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2026
  • His coronation signaled where the genre was headed—away from the pleading old-guard types and toward a more fluid, hardcore hip-hop hybrid.
    — Clover Hope, Pitchfork, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of guard
Noun
  • Wasson, by contrast, kicks off by quoting three letters from prisoners in San Quentin, from 1947, addressed to the warden.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Since the story blew up, the warden ordered at least two raids to confiscate anything brought in illegally, TMZ adds.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of warden
Noun
  • That cost difference matters because defenders can deploy one-way attack drones in large numbers, potentially forcing them to expend valuable missiles against comparatively inexpensive targets.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Emmanwori was the defender in pursuit of Worthy when the receiver dropped a pass that would have resulted in a first down early in the fourth quarter.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of defender
Noun
  • There’s also a 5,000-square-foot guesthouse, a caretaker’s residence, and a separate two-bedroom guardhouse.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2026
  • After being Claudia’s full-time caretaker for years until her death in 2024 at age 96, Young relocated back to Santa Barbara and cultivated his social media audience by sharing insights into the music business.
    — Kyle Eustice, VIBE.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of caretaker

Phrases Containing guardian

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guardhouses
guardian
guardian angel
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Cite this Entry

“Guardian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guardian. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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