WARDS Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

wards 1 of 2

noun

plural of ward

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

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

wards

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of ward

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

Noun

More recently, a rolling cast of content creators has taken to making day trips to Blackpool’s roughest wards to capitalize on the environs of its impoverished communities. — George Francis Lee, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2026 Hospitals are also closing labor and maternity wards — nearly 60 wards have closed since 2012, according to CalMatters. — Tania Azhang, Sacbee.com, 11 Aug. 2026 And more than 500 hospitals closed maternity wards between 2010 and 2022, according to a study published in the medical research journal JAMA. — Kristin Wright, NPR, 11 Aug. 2026 That applies to organisations such as cafes, leisure centres, gyms and hairdressers, as well as public toilets, local sports clubs with at least 25 members, hospital wards, domestic violence shelters and rape-crisis shelters. — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 6 Aug. 2026 Held the first Tuesday each August, this year’s celebration in Aurora included block parties and gatherings of police, fire and emergency vehicles at 24 different community events across all of the city’s 10 wards. — David Sharos, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026 Health workers warn the crisis could delay surgeries requiring transfusions and paralyze maternity wards. — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 29 July 2026 These immigrants, mostly undocumented, are blamed for rampant crime, taking jobs and overrunning hospital wards and places in government schools. — Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2026 The next day, a judge ruled that Robby and Michael should be considered wards of the state and sent them to an orphanage. — Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wards

Noun

The sixth-year forward is an athletic rebounder and has learned to fill the gaps created by defenses focusing on Wilson in the frontcourt.

— Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026
From 2022-24, Lewis was the mastermind of Alabama State’s defenses that once rivaled the Rattlers atop the FCS and SWAC.

— John Devine, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of defenses

Noun

Flowers like geraniums, coleus, and lavender are easy to propagate and maintain with proper care indoors.

— Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 30 Aug. 2026
Slate chips replace the usual bark or mulch, and layered plantings, custom window boxes and a medallion set into the rear of the fireplace show the same level of care found indoors.

— David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of care

Noun

That afternoon, the president, inside the exposition’s ornate Temple of Music, greeted members of the public, shaking hands and warmly inviting them to explore the fair.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Mendoza threw high to Jalen Nailor on his second play, and the ball popped into the air into the hands of San Francisco linebacker Tatum Bethune for an interception.

— CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of hands

Verb

Anthropic closely guards its training data sources, but music publishers think the court should require more transparency.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026
Liberty guards Marine Johannes and Pauline Astier are both looking forward to the opportunity to represent France during the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup tournament.

— Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of guards

Noun

Protective, almost — which makes sense, as its stunning chandeliers are designed to look like the shields and spears of African Masai warriors.

— Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2026
To protect them from interference from magnetic or electric fields, scientists have to dedicate large vacuum chambers and shields that can take up big lab spaces.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of shields

Noun

Joe sponsored and advanced important legislation in civil law, criminal law and procedure, family law, estates and trusts, corporate law and real estate.

— Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 24 Aug. 2026
Sibling disputes aren’t unusual Anyone can establish a trust, and disputes over trusts usually have nothing to do with professional sports.

— Naomi Cahn, The Conversation, 24 Aug. 2026