sentinel

noun

ˈsent-nəl How to pronounce sentinel (audio)
Definition of sentinelnext
as in guardian
a person or group that watches over someone or something a lone sentinel kept watch over the fort

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 sentinel Their Tibetan ancestry dates back thousands of years to when they were bred as an interior sentinel in the Buddhist monasteries. — Katelyn Chef, Martha Stewart, 12 Apr. 2026 And for decades, billboards with Smart’s smiling face stood like sentinels along Highway 101, silently urging anyone with information to come forward. — Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 8 May 2026 The observatory has spent over two decades as a sort of orbital sentinel that scans the cosmos for gamma-ray bursts, ready to quickly point itself at the short-lived — but insanely powerful — space explosions at a moment's notice. — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 26 June 2026 Dozens of health organizations and research groups have formed an independent surveillance network to track the presence of dangerous pathogens in community wastewater—a sentinel for potential outbreaks. — Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for sentinel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sentinel
  1. guardian
  2. guard
  3. custodian
  4. warden
  5. keeper
  6. sentry
Noun
  • What parents can do Whether or not Pennsylvania’s bell-to-bell ban bill becomes law, parents and guardians remain central to helping children develop healthy phone habits and communication skills.
    — Elizabeth Dowdell, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
  • If the school declares an emergency, students may be provided with prepared text messages to keep their parents or guardians informed.
    — Chaewon Chung Updated July 6, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of guardian
Noun
  • Former Houston standout guard Kingston Flemings hit a deep jumper — his toe was ruled on the 3-point line — with three seconds left in OT, slicing Utah’s lead to one, 100-99.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 5 July 2026
  • Tempers flared late in the fourth quarter when Kings center Dylan Cardwell and Nets guard Egor Demin wrestled for a loose ball.
    — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of guard
Noun
  • The business solution provider, on the other hand, acts as the logical custodian of critical processes.
    — Vicente Pava, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Williams has never lacked interpreters, custodians, handlers, or rescuers with pruning shears.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 June 2026
Definition of custodian
Noun
  • Judge McCaslin weighed in on the laptop issue during Monday's hearing, saying that the prison warden would not allow Murdaugh to keep a laptop in his cell due to safety concerns.
    — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026
  • McAndrew served as warden of Florida State Prison in the mid-’90s, when Florida still used the electric chair.
    — Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 30 June 2026
Definition of warden
Noun
  • Norwegian keeper Orjan Nyland dove to his left to stop Guimarães’ attempt, Brazil’s first unsuccessful World Cup penalty shot, not including shootouts, since 1986.
    — Sean Gregory, Time, 6 July 2026
  • The best opportunity for Portugal came through Nuno Mendes, whose deflected shot rocketed off the crossbar after cleanly beating Spanish keeper Unai Simón.
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of keeper
Noun
  • Finally, unable to stand down the household guard on her own, Alicent confesses her scheme to Helaena, who orders the sentries on the ramparts to hold fire when Rhaenyra flies in on Syrax.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 June 2026
  • Moss has colonized the ceiling, and tall trees keep sentry over the store’s diverse and eclectic inventory.
    — Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026
Definition of sentry

Browse Nearby Words

sentiments
sentinel
sentinels
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Cite this Entry

“Sentinel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sentinel. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sentinel

Nglish: Translation of sentinel for Spanish Speakers

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