janitors

noun

plural of janitor
1
as in custodians
a person who takes care of a property sometimes for an absent owner got a job as the night janitor at the elementary school

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in porters
a person who tends a door according to popular Christian tradition, St. Peter acts as janitor at heaven's pearly gates

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 janitors Landon built relationships with the janitors and grounds crew, always stopping to chat. — Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 10 July 2026 Some hospital staff, like janitors and cafeteria workers, still make minimum wage. — Cassie McGrath, Fortune, 19 June 2026 Twice a month, students, janitors, security guards and other school staff can come get a full bag of produce. — Chris Wragge, CBS News, 12 June 2026 In 1952, the Sherskys closed Three Feathers and Q was left roaming Knoxville, selling to schoolteachers, promoters, and even janitors. — Jonathan Rowe, SPIN, 1 June 2026 While teachers unions have gotten the most attention, the law also affects many other public sector unions, including those that represent bus drivers, janitors, cafeteria workers and maintenance workers. — Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 24 May 2026 Participants included janitors, security officers, airport workers and stadium employees affiliated with SEIU-United Service Workers West, along with a coalition of labor unions, civil rights organizations, immigrant advocacy groups and faith leaders. — City News Service, Daily News, 1 May 2026 Many Japanese elementary schools don’t have janitors, so the clean-up work is left to students. — Stephen Wade, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026 The former series brought aliens to Earth; the latter followed two janitors accidentally launched into space. — Carmel Dagan, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for janitors
  1. custodians
  2. porters
  3. keepers
  4. wardens
  5. caretakers
Noun
  • Every year Jim Evans faces the challenge of keeping health care costs reasonable for the more than 400 teachers, custodians and bus drivers at Concord Community Schools.
    — Alex Olgin, NPR, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Zuckerberg is referencing OpenAI and Anthropic, which operate on the premise that hyper-smart AI is both inevitable and apocalyptic—and therefore safe only in the hands of the wisest custodians (themselves).
    — Will Oremus, The Atlantic, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of custodians
Noun
  • Pick your brew from over 50 kegs of diverse brews like porters, stouts, sours, and more.
    — John Coffren, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Most of the early craft beers were ales, like pale ales, IPAs, porters and stouts.
    — Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 9 July 2026
Definition of porters
Noun
  • That could bode well for 6-foot-4 keepers Andersen and Jarry, while Levi’s 6-foot frame, combined with his professional inexperience, could hold him back.
    — Janson Duench, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Occupied by volunteer lighthouse keepers who live in the keeper’s quarters each summer, the lighthouse is only accessible by a 2-mile hike (4 miles round trip) along a sandy lakeside trail.
    — Midwest Living, Midwest Living, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of keepers
Noun
  • The encounter fortunately ended without anyone being injured, but Parks Canada wardens were able to identify the hikers after the video was posted online and racked up millions of views.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2026
  • Texas Parks and Wildlife Department — Game wardens, rescue boat teams and helicopters with hoist capability to assist with water rescues.
    — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 14 July 2026
Definition of wardens
Noun
  • The programs may look different from campus to campus, with some mascots living with their handlers as family pets, others residing in campus habitats or on private farms, and some receiving daily care from veterinary teams and student caretakers.
    — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Harry’s next major public engagement will take place in London at the annual WellChild Awards, honoring the bravery and resilience of seriously ill children and their caretakers.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of caretakers

Browse Nearby Words

janitor
janitors
Janus-faced
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Cite this Entry

“Janitors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/janitors. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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