Guarded — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ˈgär-dəd/ guard·ed

Meaning & Definition of Guarded

Guarded (adjective)

  1. cautious, circumspect
  2. being an extremely serious condition with uncertain outcome

Guarded (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble

    "a guarded man who knew better than to reveal such delicate information"

    "guarded actions"

    similar: alert, careful, cautious, chary, circumspect, conservative, considerate, gingerly, heedful, safe, wary
    related: advertent, attentive, awake, observant, regardful, vigilant, watchful, hypercautious, foresighted, foresightful, forethoughtful, provident, thoughtful, cagey, calculating, canny, shrewd, deliberate, slow, ultracareful, ultracautious
    opposite: careless, heedless, incautious, unguarded, unmindful, unsafe, unwary
    near: bold, brash, impetuous, rash, reckless, venturesome, asleep, inattentive, regardless, inconsiderate, thoughtless, lax, neglectful, negligent, remiss, imprudent, indiscreet, injudicious, absentminded, forgetful, inadvertent, unintentional, unplanned

Guarded (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to drive danger or attack away from

    "guard the quarterback so he doesn't get sacked"

    similar: bulwarked, covered, defended, fenced, fended, forfended, kept, protected, safeguarded, screened, secured, shielded, warded, stood up for
    related: averted, prevented, opposed, resisted, withstood, battled, contended, fought, warred, conserved, preserved, saved, buffered, palisaded, picketed, walled
    opposite: assailed, assaulted, attacked
    near: bombarded, stormed, beset, besieged, overran, capitulated, caved, submitted, yielded

  2. to disallow entry into (a place) by means of a physical barrier at the entry point

    "a fire-breathing dragon guarded the entrance to the castle"

    similar: barred, barricaded, blockaded, blocked (off), closed (off), walled (off)
    related: curtained (off), screened (off), diked, fenced, gated, hedged, bolted, locked, obstructed
    opposite: opened, unbarred
    near: reopened, unblocked, unbolted

Related Entry: Guard (verb)

Guard is a different word from Guarded. The synonyms below are for guard, not for guarded.

  1. to drive danger or attack away from

    "guard the quarterback so he doesn't get sacked"

    similar: bulwark, cover, defend, fence, fend, forfend, keep, protect, safeguard, screen, secure, shield, ward, stand up for
    related: avert, prevent, oppose, resist, withstand, battle, contend, fight, war, conserve, preserve, save, buffer, palisade, picket, wall
    opposite: assail, assault, attack
    near: bombard, storm, beset, besiege, overrun, capitulate, cave, submit, yield

  2. to disallow entry into (a place) by means of a physical barrier at the entry point

    "a fire-breathing dragon guarded the entrance to the castle"

    similar: bar, barricade, block (off), blockade, close (off), wall (off)
    related: curtain (off), screen (off), dike, fence, gate, hedge, bolt, lock, obstruct
    opposite: open, unbar
    near: reopen, unblock, unbolt

Related Entry: Guard (against) (verb)

Guard (against) is a different word from Guarded. The synonyms below are for guard (against), not for guarded.

  1. to be cautious of or on guard against

    "unfortunately, you have to guard against theft while you're traveling"

    similar: beware (of), look out (for), mind, ware, watch out (for), be on the lookout for, keep one's eyes open for
    related: attend, heed, mark, note, notice, behold, discern, observe, perceive, see, watch
    near: discount, disregard, ignore, miss, overlook

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Guarded

The most common words with a similar meaning to Guarded:

alert, careful, cautious, chary, circumspect, conservative, considerate, gingerly, heedful, safe, wary, bulwarked, covered, defended, fenced, fended, forfended, kept, protected, safeguarded, screened, secured, shielded, warded, barred, barricaded, blockaded, blocked (off), closed (off), walled (off), stood up for

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Guarded

Words with the opposite meaning of Guarded:

careless, heedless, incautious, unguarded, unmindful, unsafe, unwary, assailed, assaulted, attacked, opened, unbarred

Related Words for Guarded

advertent, attentive, awake, observant, regardful, vigilant, watchful, hypercautious, foresighted, foresightful, forethoughtful, provident, thoughtful, cagey, calculating, canny, shrewd, deliberate, slow, ultracareful, ultracautious, averted, prevented, opposed, resisted, withstood, battled, contended, fought, warred

Near Antonyms of Guarded

bold, brash, impetuous, rash, reckless, venturesome, asleep, inattentive, regardless, inconsiderate, thoughtless, lax, neglectful, negligent, remiss, imprudent, indiscreet, injudicious, absentminded, forgetful, inadvertent, unintentional, unplanned, bombarded, stormed, beset, besieged, overran, capitulated, caved

Word Forms of Guarded

Derived words: guardedly (adverb), guardedness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Guarded

First known use: 1709

Frequently Asked Questions about Guarded

What does "Guarded" mean?

"Guarded" means cautious, circumspect. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: cautious, circumspect. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Guarded"?

Other words for "Guarded" include alert, careful, cautious, chary, circumspect, conservative, considerate and gingerly. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Guarded" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Guarded"?

There are 76 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Guarded". Common alternatives include alert, careful, cautious, chary, circumspect, conservative, considerate, gingerly, heedful and safe.

What is the opposite of "Guarded"?

Antonyms of "Guarded" include careless, heedless, incautious, unguarded, unmindful, unsafe, unwary and assailed. Near antonyms include bold, brash, impetuous and rash.

How do you use "Guarded" in a sentence?

Examples of "Guarded" in a sentence: "a guarded man who knew better than to reveal such delicate information"; "guarded actions"; "guard the quarterback so he doesn't get sacked".

Is "Guarded" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Guarded" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Guarded"?

"Guarded" is pronounced /ˈgär-dəd/ and divided into syllables as guard·ed.

What is the origin of the word "Guarded"?

First known use: 1709.