GUARDS Synonyms: 130 Similar and Opposite Words

guards 1 of 2

noun

plural of guard

as in wardens

a person or group that watches over someone or something checked in with the security guard at the gate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in defensives

a position of readiness to oppose actual or expected attack be on your guard against snakes in the swamp

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

offensives

as in locks

a protective device (as on a weapon) to prevent accidental operation slid the guard into place over the chainsaw chain

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in defenses

means or method of defending the boxer's sparring partner managed to get a blow in under his left guard

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in guides

one that accompanies another for protection, guidance, or as a courtesy the honor guards raised their sabers as the happy couple descended the church steps

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in defenders

someone that protects a battalion of burly guards surrounding the celebrity

Synonyms & Similar Words

guards

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of guard

as in protects

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in blockades

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 guards

Noun

Students were randomly assigned to the roles of guards or inmates, with the guards pressured to maintain order by any means necessary. — Marlow Stern, Variety, 25 Oct. 2026 In a possible Supreme Court case, border guards’ invasions of privacy collide with the Fourth Amendment. — George F. Will, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026 But this is such a placid group that there’s no real tension between the female guards and the male inmates, and therefore no new insights raised about how complicated a woman’s role in this power dynamic could be. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026 Opponents are reluctant to switch smaller defenders onto Randle, Dëmin said, giving Brooklyn’s guards opportunities to attack the coverage around him. — C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026 The dynamic guards who scored 28 and 23 points, respectively, combined for 13 assists. — Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026 Head coach Mark Campbell has helped develop future WNBA guards like Sabrina Ionescu, Hailey Van Lith and Olivia Miles. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026 Abuse of power seems particularly likely when male guards are put in charge of female prisoners, yet precisely this dynamic is the reality in many American prisons. — Judy Berman, Time, 21 Oct. 2026 Among 45 guards who entered Miami’s bye week with 100 or more run blocking attempts, PFF ranks Proctor 15th. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026

Verb

Along with Adebayo, guards Pelle Larsson (illness) and Dru Smith (right calf strain) weren’t available for the Heat on Wednesday. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026 The router comes with Advanced Router Protection, which guards your router, and a 30-day trial for Netgear Armor Security. — George Yang, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026 Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles received six first-place votes and 40 second-place votes (442 points), while Indiana Fever guards Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark followed with 287 and 212 points, respectively. — Doug Feinberg, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 The Lakers also were without center Walker Kessler (finger), guards Austin Reaves (ankle) and Collin Sexton (lower body), and two-way forward Arthur Kaluma (lower body), who all missed their second consecutive preseason game. — Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026 Klaatu's giant robot sidekick, Gort, then steps out of the vessel, obliterates a load of firearms with his laser eyes, and silently guards the ship as his master is taken to hospital. — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026 However, Lucille guards dark secrets hidden in her family’s home, and with Edith’s ability to commune with the dead, the things the Sharpes have been trying to hide within the walls of Crimson Peak begin to burst forth. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2026 Aces guards Jewell Loyd and Jackie Young gestured toward officials and security personnel while pointing out attendees sitting in the front row. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026 Dolphins interior linemen like center Aaron Brewer and guards Kadyn Proctor and Jonah Savaiinaea could get matchups against seven-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Chris Jones. — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for guards

Noun

According to the post, Kentucky State Police Aviation saw smoke in the area, and wardens and search and rescue personnel were able to access the location, near the headwaters of Cave Run Lake, using a boat.

— Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Sep. 2026
Game wardens did arrest nine people across Georgia for boating under the influence, the majority of whom were at Lake Lanier.

— Dan Raby, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of wardens

Noun

By then, Conan Doyle was receiving dozens of inquiries addressed to Sherlock Holmes each month—requests for autographs, advice, even locks of hair.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
The political environment appears increasingly favorable for Democrats and grim for Republicans, meaning districts once considered locks for the GOP are suddenly in play.

— Jamie Ross, Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of locks

Noun

The spa There are treatment rooms for a variety of massages, facials, and indulgences based on Wei Qi, a concept rooted in traditional Chinese medicine that boosts the body’s defenses.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Ukraine’s defenses have been hobbled in recent days by unexplained failures of the Starlink and Starshield satellite systems that are a crucial tool to protect civilians from incoming Russian missiles and drone attacks.

— Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of defenses

Noun

Each channel has different requirements, routing guides, compliance standards, package specifications and customer expectations, and the level of operational complexity has grown exponentially.

— Tom Wicky, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Multiple telehealth operators including Hims, Gatlan and TRT Nation now publish detailed exit guides covering tapering schedules, symptom timelines and medical supervision requirements.

— Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of guides

Noun

Some fans are staunch defenders of the polarizing pork sandwich, which consists of a boneless pork patty smothered in tangy barbecue sauce, topped with onions and pickles and served on a toasted roll.

— Sadie Chafe, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Brooks and Jacob Rodriguez played all 59 snaps; Rodriguez had a season-low four tackles and PFF rated him fourth-worst among Miami’s 19 defenders.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of defenders

Verb

There's no question that the United States has a credible threat of force, but the blockade really blockades ourselves as well as Iran.

— ABC News, ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
As the United States military blockades the Strait of Hormuz fuel prices rose above $100 dollars a barrel.

— Contessa Brewer,Dawn Giel, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026