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guarded

[gahr-did]
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adjective
  1. cautious; careful; prudent: to be guarded in one's speech.
  2. protected, watched, or restrained, as by a guard.

Origin of guarded

First recorded in 1500–10; guard + -ed2
Related formsguard·ed·ly, adverbguard·ed·ness, nounself-guard·ed, adjectivewell-guard·ed, adjective

Synonyms

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1. wary, watchful, chary, circumspect, vigilant.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for well-guarded

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • "You must be sure that you are well-guarded," said Mrs. Knapp.

    Blindfolded

    Earle Ashley Walcott

  • Send a well-guarded, placating embassy to him and to Cotubanama.

    1492

    Mary Johnston

  • Cautiously, and in well-guarded phrase, Blount stated his case.

  • High walls were they and well-guarded, and at their foot was a deep moat which was rosy with lotus flowers all the seventh month.

  • A safe boat given also by him who built the gratuitous ferry daily transports to the well-guarded shore.

    From the Caves and Jungles of Hindostan

    Helena Pretrovna Blavatsky

British Dictionary definitions for well-guarded

well-guarded

adjective (well guarded when postpositive)
  1. having sufficient protection from danger or harm
  2. kept private or out of the public eyewell-guarded secrets

guarded

adjective
  1. protected or kept under surveillance
  2. prudent, restrained, or noncommittala guarded reply
Derived Formsguardedly, adverbguardedness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for well-guarded

guarded

adj.

c.1500, past participle adjective from guard (v.). Meaning "reserved and cautious in speech, behavior, etc." is from 1728. Related: Guardedly; guardedness.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
well-guarded in Medicine

guarded

adj.
  1. Watched over; supervised, as of the condition of a patient.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.