Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb guard

4 senses of guard

Sense 1
guard -- (to keep watch over; "there would be men guarding the horses")
       => watch, observe, follow, watch over, keep an eye on -- (follow with the eyes or the mind; "Keep an eye on the baby, please!"; "The world is watching Sarajevo"; "She followed the men with the binoculars")

Sense 2
guard, ward -- (watch over or shield from danger or harm; protect; "guard my possessions while I'm away")
       => protect -- (shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage; "Weatherbeater protects your roof from the rain")

Sense 3
defend, guard, hold -- (protect against a challenge or attack; "Hold that position behind the trees!"; "Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks")
       => protect -- (shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage; "Weatherbeater protects your roof from the rain")

Sense 4
guard -- (take precautions in order to avoid some unwanted consequence; "guard against becoming too friendly with the staff"; "guard against infection")
       => act, move -- (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action); "think before you act"; "We must move quickly"; "The governor should act on the new energy bill"; "The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel")

Antonyms of adj guarded

1 sense of guarded

Sense 1
guarded, restrained -- (prudent; "guarded optimism")

INDIRECT (VIA cautious) -> incautious -- (lacking in caution; "an incautious remark"; "incautious talk")

Similarity of adj guarded

1 sense of guarded

Sense 1
guarded, restrained -- (prudent; "guarded optimism")
       => cautious (vs. incautious) -- (showing careful forethought; "reserved and cautious; never making swift decisions"; "a cautious driver")