1
as in keeper
a person who takes care of a property sometimes for an absent owner the custodian made his usual rounds of the building to make sure that everything was OK

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2
as in guardian
a person or group that watches over someone or something served as custodian of the prisoner until he could be turned over to federal authorities

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3
as in defender
someone that protects we must regard ourselves as custodians of the Earth so that its natural resources may be enjoyed by many generations to come

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of custodian Bad experiences aside, Joan’s father’s position as a custodian at the local high school gives her an early — and potent — look into something that can’t help but both thrill and confuse her: the life of the all-American teen. Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2025 Last year, the union came to the defense of custodians held against their will when protesters occupied Hamilton Hall. Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 28 Feb. 2025 So that’s our jobs as custodians of the arts, to have an entry point where people can see where that’s made by people that look like them and just feel the energy. Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 12 Mar. 2025 People are walking memories, and certain generations have been custodians of their traditions. Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for custodian
Recent Examples of Synonyms for custodian
Noun
  • D’Onta Foreman had a 38-yard run on the second play of the drive, and Sam Darnold scored on an option keeper.
    Dave Birkett, USA TODAY, 25 Dec. 2022
  • Egan’s 1-yard touchdown run on a fourth-down keeper pulled the Chargers within 28-26 with 4:57 left in the third quarter.
    Jason Frakes, The Courier-Journal, 26 Nov. 2022
Noun
  • Admission is free, but guests under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Check out the full schedule and additional information here.
    Staff report, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Her bank believed that she had been exploited, and Morrissey was appointed as her guardian.
    Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Too often, defenders turn their heads to watch the ball, completely losing track of their man.
    Brian Sampson, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • The second straight clean sheet was also a point of pride for the back line, according to defender Izzy Rodriguez.
    Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • For example, housekeepers typically don't make as much as janitors.
    Alex Golden, Axios, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Blue Collar Jobs Make a Difference Consider janitors.
    Art Carden, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • There’s an exasperated receptionist and many indifferent bystanders, but even as Mina escalates the confrontation, guards and wardens barely bat an eye.
    Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025
  • The boys are digging holes because the warden is looking for something.
    Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The Mavericks wanted to start Davis at power forward alongside Daniel Gafford or Dereck Lively II, both of whom are respectable rim protectors in their own right.
    Christian Clark, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
  • Listen to this article Another formidable rim protector joined Christian Braun’s poster collection recently.
    Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 23 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • In the film, Ferreira stars as Lily Trevino, a 25-year-old at-home caretaker who struggles with self-abandonment.
    Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 21 Mar. 2025
  • As part of her conditional release, the court ordered her to not have any animals under her control or possession, other than two dogs — not under her care — who belong to a caretaker.
    Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 20 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Nets two-way guard Tyson Etienne scored his first career buckets early in the fourth quarter and fellow two-way Tosan Evbuomwan played for the first time in over a month.
    C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Former Sixth Man of the Year Jazz combo guard Jordan Clarkson is done for the year with left plantar fasciitis.
    Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Custodian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/custodian. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.

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