1
as in defenses
means or method of defending
frequent hand washing is an oft-recommended ward against the spread of common germs
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in custodies
responsibility for the safety and well-being of someone or something
gained the ward of his cousin upon the death of her parents
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in protects
to drive danger or attack away from
vowed that he would take whatever measures were necessary to ward the nation's people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wards
Arkansas Online, 26 Mar. 2026
Within half an hour of the earthquake, 136 fires had erupted in twelve of Tokyo’s fifteen wards.
—Joshua Hammer, The New York Review of Books, 19 Mar. 2026
Attempts by aldermen to ban video gambling machines from their wards were struck down by colleagues yesterday in a rare rebuke of the control council members have over vice and other issues in their neighborhoods.
—Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
In individual interviews, all seven council members and the mayor agree that their political wards will feel the after-effects of the federal crackdown for months, if not years to come.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
Early voting for the 2026 Illinois primary expanded an additional 55 locations in Cook County Monday and opened across all 50 Chicago wards.
—Lauren Victory, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
Ask for coupons and samples Manufacturers often lavish maternity wards with freebies, but the hospital staff is sometimes too busy to remember to dole them out.
—Deborah Skolnik, Parents, 1 Mar. 2026
When provided care, Black patients were assigned to inferior wards.
—Anita Moncrease, The Conversation, 25 Feb. 2026
Carr watches over her furry wards like a proud mother.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
Bedreldin Abduelnabi, who heads the activities of the humanitarian health care provider Alight in East Darfur and West Kordofan, said the strike damaged all of the hospital's wards, including emergency, medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and renal dialysis.
—Arkansas Online, 26 Mar. 2026
Within half an hour of the earthquake, 136 fires had erupted in twelve of Tokyo’s fifteen wards.
—Joshua Hammer, The New York Review of Books, 19 Mar. 2026
Attempts by aldermen to ban video gambling machines from their wards were struck down by colleagues yesterday in a rare rebuke of the control council members have over vice and other issues in their neighborhoods.
—Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
In individual interviews, all seven council members and the mayor agree that their political wards will feel the after-effects of the federal crackdown for months, if not years to come.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
Early voting for the 2026 Illinois primary expanded an additional 55 locations in Cook County Monday and opened across all 50 Chicago wards.
—Lauren Victory, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
Ask for coupons and samples Manufacturers often lavish maternity wards with freebies, but the hospital staff is sometimes too busy to remember to dole them out.
—Deborah Skolnik, Parents, 1 Mar. 2026
When provided care, Black patients were assigned to inferior wards.
—Anita Moncrease, The Conversation, 25 Feb. 2026
Carr watches over her furry wards like a proud mother.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wards
Noun
-
Unfortunately for humans, several of these chemical defenses can cause painful skin reactions.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Iran offers a concrete example of how fast the character of a campaign can change once air defenses begin to fail.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Proponents say the bill addresses a shortage of foster homes in Missouri and protects religious freedom.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
-
If someone pushes you to rush, keep your tone measured and propose a reasonable deadline that protects quality and keeps expectations aligned.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Progressive lawmakers Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently introduced a bill to pause all new data center construction until federal guardrails and safeguards are instituted for workers, communities and the environment.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The Teamsters also secured additional job protections within the tentative deal including safeguards against AI-powered routing systems and bans on the use of autonomous vehicles.—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Colorado Hospital Association — which opposes the bill — says state laws require all hospitals to screen patients for discounted care, wait six months before garnishing wages, and provide 30 days' notice.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Staffers showed up to providers for in-person visits, sometimes checking more than once, and found no child care taking place, which led to immediate termination from the program.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Dilley faces mounting scrutiny from immigration lawyers and advocates, who say children have struggled emotionally and physically in an environment where lights remain on around the clock and guards patrol.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Sophomore guards Elmarko Jackson and Jamari McDowell, both sophomores, emerged as reliable college rotation players in 2025-26.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Some protesters wearing shields and gas masks on the other side of a fence at the federal complex picked up the canisters and tossed them back at police.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Opening Day festivities in Cincinnati ended with a series of disturbances Thursday evening that prompted police armed with nonlethal shotguns, pepper spray and riot shields to shut down The Banks and send hundreds of revelers home early.—
David Ferrara,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In the clip, shared by @whit_fashionfinds, footage from inside her living room shows her teen on hands and knees pushing clutter across the floor and underneath the couch.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Consider setting aside grandiose ambitions for the moment and taking a break to do something active with your hands.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For people living along the coast, sand also defends against intense storms and sea level rise fueled by climate change.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Prosecutor defends plea agreement Two men accused of firing shots after the 2024 Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory rally are still awaiting trial.—
Jack Harvel,
Kansas City Star,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wards.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wards. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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