guarded

[gahr-did]

adjective

1. cautious; careful; prudent.

   to be guarded in one's speech.

   Synonyms: vigilant, circumspect, chary, watchful, wary

2. protected, watched, or restrained, as by a guard.

guarded

/ ˈɡɑːdɪd /

adjective

1. protected or kept under surveillance

2. prudent, restrained, or noncommittal

   a guarded reply

Other Word Forms

• guardedly adverb
• guardedness noun
• self-guarded adjective
• well-guarded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of guarded¹

First recorded in 1500–10; guard + -ed ²

Example Sentences

It's the first public glimpse of the impressive bear, whose design was a closely guarded secret for years.

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Stam said that the changes guarded against judges being “smeared at the last minute” by people filing public complaints during elections “for political purposes.”

Read more on Salon

Illegal crossings at the southern border have reached historic lows, and many agents who typically have guarded that area now patrol cities.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Park explained, “Korean palace cuisine was guarded heavily by the Korean palace. The palace maintained a ‘no leaving the door’ policy.

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The officers were brought by a prison van to the court, guarded by a heavy deployment of police.

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Related Words

• cautious 
• circumspect 
• reserved 
• restrained