guarded

American  

[gahr-did] / ˈgɑr dɪd /

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.

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guarded British  

/ ˈɡɑːdɪd /

adjective

1. protected or kept under surveillance

2. prudent, restrained, or noncommittal

   a guarded reply

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of guarded

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

Example Sentences

For the first two years of the war, he lived in a bunker inside the heavily guarded presidential quarter of Kyiv.

From Barron's

But these tend to be closely guarded secrets.

From The Wall Street Journal

And while his sister Caroline rigorously guarded her privacy, John chose a public life.

From Los Angeles Times

He said his father, however, is still very guarded and does not go out.

From Los Angeles Times

"Schools should be safe," Gigi Rejano, who works at a local restaurant, told AFP at the vigil, calling for the entrance of the school building to be guarded from now on.

From Barron's

Related Words

• cautious
• circumspect
• reserved
• restrained