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
Relevance
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
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 wards
Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2025
Because most board candidates run at-large rather than from wards (subdistricts), elections are largely insulated from gerrymandering, a driver of systemic dysfunction.
—Scott Levy, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
There are a total of 99 congregations, 62 of them wards, and 37 are branches, which is a smaller congregation than the larger wards.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 29 Sep. 2025
In rural counties, maternity wards have already closed.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Earlier this year, the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, stepped up immigration enforcement, deploying police officers to dozens of maternity wards in the country.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
The final results, accepted by the Boston Election Commission on Monday, also led to Wu, Kraft and Cappucci picking up votes in the partial recount, which encompassed five of the city’s 22 wards.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 22 Sep. 2025
Early this year, The San Diego Union-Tribune disclosed scores of lawsuits filed by former wards of county juvenile detention programs operated by the Probation Department.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Sep. 2025
So far, one of Washington's eight wards has accepted the Guard's help to help with running a soup kitchen.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
Seats are elected from each of the city’s wards and serve staggered, four-year terms.
—Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2025
Because most board candidates run at-large rather than from wards (subdistricts), elections are largely insulated from gerrymandering, a driver of systemic dysfunction.
—Scott Levy, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
There are a total of 99 congregations, 62 of them wards, and 37 are branches, which is a smaller congregation than the larger wards.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 29 Sep. 2025
In rural counties, maternity wards have already closed.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Earlier this year, the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, stepped up immigration enforcement, deploying police officers to dozens of maternity wards in the country.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
The final results, accepted by the Boston Election Commission on Monday, also led to Wu, Kraft and Cappucci picking up votes in the partial recount, which encompassed five of the city’s 22 wards.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 22 Sep. 2025
Early this year, The San Diego Union-Tribune disclosed scores of lawsuits filed by former wards of county juvenile detention programs operated by the Probation Department.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Sep. 2025
So far, one of Washington's eight wards has accepted the Guard's help to help with running a soup kitchen.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wards
Noun
-
Iran — much like Venezuela — has air defenses against drones.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Your immune system also uses sleep to recharge its defenses.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Covering cilantro with cloches and adding mulch around your plants protects them from chilly weather.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Oct. 2025
-
The justices found the organization’s policy violated the state’s Human Rights Act, which protects individuals from discrimination based on gender identity.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Companies that host or enable these tools must now consider stronger safeguards and faster takedown systems.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Lawsuit alleges OpenAI weakened suicide safeguards to boost ChatGPT use.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Custody and placement arrangements were verified in family court records, and survey respondents also tracked the time their children spent in their care.—
Ashley Luthern,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Beki San Martin is a fellow at the Detroit Free Press who covers child care, early childhood education and other issues that affect the lives of children ages 5 and under and their families in metro Detroit and across Michigan.—
Beki San Martin,
Freep.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
According to a team press release, Utah has cut floor-stretching center Mo Bamba plus guards Pedro Bradshaw and Sean East II, just days prior to the start of Utah's season.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The edit suite looks like a dorm room, full of fanboy figurines like a life-size Funko Pop of Stranger Things’ protagonist Eleven (played by Millie Bobby Brown) that guards the front door in her blonde wig, clutching her favorite snack, Eggo waffles.—
Eliana Dockterman,
Time,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
There’s no due process here, either; the three triumvirs don’t get their hands dirty, their decisions can’t be appealed, and there’s no public process by which those to be killed will be identified before the decision is final.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Delving into the tragic murder of Ajike Owens, a Black Florida woman, at the hands of her white neighbor Susan Lorincz, the new film from prolific documentarian Geeta Gandbhir examines issues of race, class, community, and surveillance.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Other advocates, including VALOR CEO Sandra Henriquez and Loyola University’s Aradhana Tiwari, said the law strengthens family and community safety, shields children from exploitation, and ensures continuity of care if parents are detained or deported.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
-
With help from melon antioxidants, peptides, and SPF, the hydrating product shields your skin from harmful rays while also minimizing fine lines.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Walking deeper into a smelly cave along the Albania-Greece border, cavers shined their flashlights along the rock walls and illuminated a massive spider colony.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
22 Oct. 2025
-
On Floors, Walls, and Ceiling Famed interior designer Emily Henderson went all-in on warm oak for her brother’s home project, cladding the floors, walls, and ceiling a gorgeous oak wood plank.—
Lauren Bengtson,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wards.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wards. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share