rear·guard
ˈrir-ˌgärd 
: of or relating to resistance especially to sweeping social forces
fought a rearguard action against automation
ˈrir-ˈgärd
-ˌgärd
: a military detachment detailed to bring up and protect the rear of a main body or force
Examples of rearguard in a Sentence
Adjective
The army fought a courageous rearguard action.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Economist, 8 Apr. 2020
The company has been fighting something of a rearguard action against the outcry over its polices, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg appearing in front of Congress earlier this month.
—Bloomberg.com, 25 Apr. 2018
Indeed, Justice Clarence Thomas continues to fight a rearguard action against the clause as applied to the states.
—Garrett Epps, The Atlantic, 9 July 2017
The rearguard action was led by the 31-year-old Miller, who has exercised outside influence over the summit's response to the worst refugee crisis since World War II.
—chicagotribune.com, 26 May 2017
Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2024
Indeed, Dnipropetrovsk has been a key rear guard for the Ukrainian military and National Guard.
—Taras Kuzio, Foreign Affairs, 25 Jan. 2015
The capelin rear guard, sensing danger, rose off the bottom in a great fleeing cloud.
—Robert Kunzig, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
General Fran Sigel was assigned as rear guard for forces moving through town.
—Randy McCrory, Arkansas Online, 3 Aug. 2023
By the 1990s, NHTSA had finally adopted a regulation requiring tougher rear guards.
—A.c. Thompson, ProPublica, 13 June 2023
The beefier, more robust rear guards would’ve cost an additional $127 each, according to industry estimates.
—A.c. Thompson, ProPublica, 13 June 2023
Striking then racing away as the Russian rear guard struggles to catch up.
—David Axe, Forbes, 3 May 2023
The rear guard ensures that nothing falls into that gap between your stove and the wall.
—Matt Jancer, WIRED, 25 Feb. 2023
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.
Adjective
Mr Johnson’s Brexit plans have been sidelined in order to fight a rearguard action against a disease that is locking down the country and tanking the economy.
—The Economist, 8 Apr. 2020
The company has been fighting something of a rearguard action against the outcry over its polices, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg appearing in front of Congress earlier this month.
—Bloomberg.com, 25 Apr. 2018
Indeed, Justice Clarence Thomas continues to fight a rearguard action against the clause as applied to the states.
—Garrett Epps, The Atlantic, 9 July 2017
The rearguard action was led by the 31-year-old Miller, who has exercised outside influence over the summit's response to the worst refugee crisis since World War II.
—chicagotribune.com, 26 May 2017
Noun
And assassins from a coalition of all the local indigenous tribes — out for blood over the murder of Jimmy the Creek, one of their own, last episode — slit the throats of Ming’s rear guard.
—Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2024
Indeed, Dnipropetrovsk has been a key rear guard for the Ukrainian military and National Guard.
—Taras Kuzio, Foreign Affairs, 25 Jan. 2015
The capelin rear guard, sensing danger, rose off the bottom in a great fleeing cloud.
—Robert Kunzig, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
General Fran Sigel was assigned as rear guard for forces moving through town.
—Randy McCrory, Arkansas Online, 3 Aug. 2023
By the 1990s, NHTSA had finally adopted a regulation requiring tougher rear guards.
—A.c. Thompson, ProPublica, 13 June 2023
The beefier, more robust rear guards would’ve cost an additional $127 each, according to industry estimates.
—A.c. Thompson, ProPublica, 13 June 2023
Striking then racing away as the Russian rear guard struggles to catch up.
—David Axe, Forbes, 3 May 2023
The rear guard ensures that nothing falls into that gap between your stove and the wall.
—Matt Jancer, WIRED, 25 Feb. 2023
Dictionary Entries Near rearguard
Cite this Entry
“Rearguard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rearguard. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share