guard 1 of 2

Definition of guardnext
1
2
as in defensive
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

3
as in lock
a protective device (as on a weapon) to prevent accidental operation slid the guard into place over the chainsaw chain

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
5
as in guide
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

6

guard

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word guard different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of guard are defend, protect, safeguard, and shield. While all these words mean "to keep secure from danger or against attack," guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger.

White House entrances are well guarded

In what contexts can defend take the place of guard?

The words defend and guard are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.

defend the country

When can protect be used instead of guard?

While the synonyms protect and guard are close in meaning, protect implies the use of something (such as a covering) as a bar to the admission or impact of what may attack or injure.

a hard hat to protect your head

Where would safeguard be a reasonable alternative to guard?

In some situations, the words safeguard and guard are roughly equivalent. However, safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger.

our civil liberties must be safeguarded

When is shield a more appropriate choice than guard?

The words shield and guard can be used in similar contexts, but shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack.

shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand

How is the word guard different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of guard are defend, protect, safeguard, and shield. While all these words mean "to keep secure from danger or against attack," guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger.

White House entrances are well guarded

In what contexts can defend take the place of guard?

The words defend and guard are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.

defend the country

When can protect be used instead of guard?

While the synonyms protect and guard are close in meaning, protect implies the use of something (such as a covering) as a bar to the admission or impact of what may attack or injure.

a hard hat to protect your head

Where would safeguard be a reasonable alternative to guard?

In some situations, the words safeguard and guard are roughly equivalent. However, safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger.

our civil liberties must be safeguarded

When is shield a more appropriate choice than guard?

The words shield and guard can be used in similar contexts, but shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack.

shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand

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 guard
Noun
Consider installing gutter guards or screens, which help block debris from entering while still allowing water through. Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Mar. 2026 Install gutter guards or screens. Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
On March 26, Stewart appeared on an episode of the Roommates Show podcast, co-hosted by New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson and his teammate Josh Hart. Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026 The vibe of the beach became more guarded, and those who still went were far less glamorous than the old crowd. Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for guard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guard
Noun
  • Parents, guardians, aunts and uncles don't have time to read every book on the shelf while trying to pick something for the young reader in their life, so here are some simple ways to determine if a book is suitable for that child.
    Cody Godwin, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Hernandez listed herself as Ruben’s guardian or emergency contact in paperwork with North Shore Medical Center, Golden Glades Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Larkin Community Hospital — though Ruben and Carmen were married.
    Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • On the defensive In courthouses around the country, Abbott and Mead Johnson are on the defensive — and have been for years.
    David Hilzenrath, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026
  • There was lockdown cornerback Charles Woodson, the first defensive back to win the Heisman Trophy.
    Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The landlord was worried about flooding coming from inside the residence and said that the previous tenants had changed the locks after they had been evicted.
    Patrick Damp, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
  • First canals and then locks were devised to guide boats around the falls.
    Adam Sachs, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Earlier Monday, Turkey's defense ministry announced that the alliance's air defenses deployed in the eastern Mediterranean had, for a fourth time during the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, intercepted an Iranian missile that had entered its airspace.
    Lucia I Suarez Sang, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Those are just some of the ways in which the three elements have become critical for modern manufacturing, including for defense.
    Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • This guide breaks down the most credible thinning hair treatments and products on the market, grounding each recommendation in what the evidence actually says.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026
  • With that difficulty in mind, Vogue has put together a guide to 7 of the very best plus-size vintage options across America.
    Emma Specter, Vogue, 27 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • With the Heat continuing to play small, Siakam was able to shoot over smaller defenders, including an easy jumper over Davion Mitchell, who’s eight inches shorter at an even six feet.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
  • In the 72nd minute, Dudinha, who finished with two assists, stole the ball from Chicago and passed it to Barcenas, who, while moving to her left, delivered a brilliant backheel to her right to evade two defenders.
    Fernando Ramirez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • To protect yourself, property owners can sign up for notifications about any new documents filed for their property in the city's Automated City Register Information System (ACRIS).
    Tim McNicholas, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Go to the Strait and just take it, protect it.
    James Powel, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • With Iran essentially blockading the Strait of Hormuz, driving up global oil prices, there are concerns that if the Houthis start attacking ships in the Red Sea again global shipping will be even more disrupted.
    NPR Staff, NPR, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Tehran has used missiles and cheap drones to effectively blockade the Strait of Hormuz, a vital trade route through which 20% of the world’s oil passed daily before the war, while attacking Gulf oil and gas facilities.
    Alexander Smith, NBC news, 28 Mar. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Guard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guard. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on guard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster