unguarded

adjective

ˌən-ˈgär-dəd How to pronounce unguarded (audio)
Definition of unguardednext
1
as in outspoken
free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions the swimming coach quickly regretted his unguarded comments about the young swimmer's limitations

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in vulnerable
lacking protection from danger or resistance against attack an unguarded gate that would later prove to be the fatal weakness in the city's defenses

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in careless
not paying or showing close attention especially for the purpose of avoiding trouble in an unguarded moment I let my mind wander and smashed my car into a tree

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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 unguarded 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 Graham Platner, the Maine Senate candidate who has become the left’s latest blue-collar savior, put the theory in its most unguarded form. — Nicholas Jacobs, The Conversation, 2 June 2026 Very good passer who can be a connector offensively, start the break himself, and has improved each year as a shooter, making 37% of his 3-pointers this season, including 45% when unguarded and even 38% off the dribble. — Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 23 June 2026 As Germany pushed forward for an equalizer, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was caught out of position, allowing South Korean forward Son Heung-Min to slot a second goal into the unguarded net. — Tushaar Kuthiala, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for unguarded
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unguarded
  1. outspoken
  2. vulnerable
  3. careless
  4. honest
  5. susceptible
  6. unsafe
  7. candid
  8. helpless
Adjective
  • The experience of Jack Ma illustrates the limits imposed on entrepreneurs who become too powerful or politically outspoken.
    — Rainer Zitelmann, Fortune, 2 July 2026
  • The fact his reputation around the league points to him being outspoken cooled his value.
    — Tony Jones, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of outspoken
Adjective
  • Key industries like agriculture, outdoor recreation, and the power grid are structurally vulnerable to water scarcity and extreme weather, exacerbated by climate change.
    — Kelly Fleming, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • The gang members and associates allegedly focused on recruiting vulnerable minor girls and young women, many of whom came from broken homes or had fallen through the foster care system, Essayli said Wednesday.
    — Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of vulnerable
Adjective
  • The Most The business owners who get burned in an exit are almost never careless.
    — Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
  • Still, multitasking can lead to careless errors, irritability or burnout, so take it easy.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
Definition of careless
Adjective
  • Refine a portfolio piece, build a small prototype, or share a draft with someone who gives honest notes.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 5 July 2026
  • County officials have repeatedly warned that fraudulent claims take money away from public services and shift the tax burden to honest taxpayers.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 July 2026
Definition of honest
Adjective
  • However, people with weakened immune systems or certain underlying health conditions may be more susceptible to infection.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • Cooking Oils Cooking oils high in unsaturated fats, such as olive, walnut, and flaxseed oils, are among the pantry items most susceptible to heat damage.
    — Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 1 July 2026
Definition of susceptible
Adjective
  • It is considered unsafe to swim in the rivers for at least 48 hours after a storm.
    — Finch Walker, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • As repair and evaluation work continues following major breaks in the Haverhill sewer line over a week ago, a nonprofit’s testing is still showing unsafe levels of fecal bacteria downstream in the Merrimack River.
    — Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 5 July 2026
Definition of unsafe
Adjective
  • Readiness is an ongoing practice, not a declaration, determined by daily interactions and the safety to be candid.
    — Tracy Lawrence, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • In April 2020, the pop superstar shared a candid photo of herself and Austin to her social media in honor of National Siblings Day.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 2 July 2026
Definition of candid
Adjective
  • The leading interpretation is that Smilodon delivered a single precise bite to the throat or belly, severing something vital in a target that was already helpless.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Pele controls the ball in the penalty area with his thigh, flips it over the head of the defender and smashes it past a helpless Kalle Svensson.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
Definition of helpless

Browse Nearby Words

ungrudgingly
unguarded
unguardedly
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Cite this Entry

“Unguarded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unguarded. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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