GUARDING Synonyms: 118 Similar and Opposite Words

guarding 1 of 3

adjective

as in protecting

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Dissimilar Words

guarding

2 of 3

noun

as in defense

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Dissimilar Words

guarding

3 of 3

verb

present participle of guard

as in defending

to drive danger or attack away from guard the quarterback so he doesn't get sacked

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in blockading

to disallow entry into (a place) by means of a physical barrier at the entry point a fire-breathing dragon guarded the entrance to the castle

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 guarding

Noun

Carter’s 6-10 twin towers Jackson and junior Shaqere Kizzee clogged the middle defensively, forcing Kennedale to settle for 3-pointers or difficult jumpers against tight guarding. — Randy Jennings, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026 The internet is obsessed with a giant dog trying to show his guarding skills against an unusual trespasser. — Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025 Painful stiffness that varies dramatically in intensity based on stress levels, sleep quality or emotional state also suggests protective guarding. — Dana Santas, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2025

Verb

The most direct tribute to Tippett came in the battle against two giant droids guarding an overlord’s chamber. — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026 Their day jobs are with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), a specialized force tasked with guarding the peaks and passes of India’s 2,167-mile (3,488-kilometer) long Himalayan border with China. — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026 The two businesses, collectively known as CTU, recruited the Colombian commandos who were supposed guarding Sanon in Haiti but later stormed Moïse’s hillside residence above Port-au-Prince in the middle of the night. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026 After attempts to fire his gun failed, the suspect then took out a knife and charged at an officer guarding the door. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 8 Oct. 2026 At halftime, coaches showed players a clip of Williams, a 6-foot-9 forward who signed on a minimum contract, guarding the ball full court. — Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 Then Diallo checked in after halftime, face-guarding for all 90 feet with a calm, expressionless face. — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 4 Oct. 2026 MacPhee positions all 10 outfield players goal-side of the penalty spot, with his best aerial defenders zonally guarding the six-yard box around goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. — Liam Twomey, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026 The network is protected with enterprise-grade encryption, guarding it against cyber threats. — George Yang, PC Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for guarding

Noun

Stokes finished with a personal 2026 postseason-best 13 points to go with eight rebounds, three blocks and suffocating defense on Dream star Angel Reese, who was held to seven points on 2-for-8 shooting.

— Reuters, NBC news, 27 Oct. 2026
Portis rushed to his teammates’ defense, getting into Gafford’s face before the two teams separated them.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of defense

Verb

Still, research like this hints at where oral health could be headed, moving away from simply protecting or replacing damaged tissue and toward materials designed to help rebuild tooth enamel instead.

— Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Oct. 2026
That’s because the rocket aims for full reusability, with a novel upper stage thruster design and heat shield to solve the difficult problem of protecting a vehicle reentering at orbital velocity.

— Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of protecting

Verb

On one side, legions of determined teenagers protesting for their future by blockading schools and taking part in marches that have sometimes spiraled into violence.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026
Anti-riot police officers face protesting students carrying out blockading action outside the secondary school Le Corbusier, in Aubervilliers, northern Paris on October 1, 2026.

— Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of blockading

Noun

Meta has long been criticized for its data privacy practices, and on Wednesday, a New Mexico judge ordered the company to pay $25 billion for violating the state’s consumer protection laws.

— Andrew R. Chow, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
And Paulino’s research into plantas de poder (plants of power), used for spiritual protection in Afro-Brazilian religious traditions, has only deepened, the relationship between her plants and the cycles of day and night becoming more expansive.

— Tatiane de Assis, ARTnews.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of protection

Verb

Sheriff’s officials said Mullennix pointed a gun at a detective and threatened to shoot him before barricading herself inside the home.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2026
This is evident in its determination to contain the protests, deploying over 40,000 security personnel, closing down metro and train stations, barricading central Delhi, suspending mobile Internet, and detaining over 7,000 people.

— Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of barricading

Noun

Another folder called ‘off field’ had detailed sub-sections including safeguarding, event hire, governance, hospitality, insurance, merchandise, staff, pitch hire, player expenses and risk assessment.

— Andy Mitten, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Unlike fellow Club name Wells Fargo , whose core business is collecting deposits and issuing consumer and commercial loans, BNY's main focus is collecting fees from servicing, safeguarding, and moving financial assets for institutions.

— Jeff Marks, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of safeguarding

Verb

In Flanagan‘s take, Margaret is fiercely committed to shielding Carrie from the world’s dangers and from her classmates’ cruelty, even becoming a parental advocate in their community and on social media.

— Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2026
Long decided to show Carl standing in a spotlight, wearing white boxers with red hearts, shielding Princess Donut.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of shielding

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Style

“Guarding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guarding. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of guarding

adjective

noun

verb

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