janitor

noun

ˈja-nə-tər How to pronounce janitor (audio)
Definition of janitornext
1
as in custodian
a person who takes care of a property sometimes for an absent owner got a job as the night janitor at the elementary school

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in porter
a person who tends a door according to popular Christian tradition, St. Peter acts as janitor at heaven's pearly gates

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 janitor The novel tells of the unique relationship between a lonely elderly widow named Tova working as a janitor at an aquarium and a giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus living at the facility. — Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Mar. 2025 Robinson began earning his own money at age 14 as a church janitor and went on to work fast-food jobs through high school and college. — Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2025 The Telegram channel said the janitor placed Saitiev on wooden boards and alerted the concierge to call an ambulance. — Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025 Charlie Day played her son, janitor/man-child Charlie Kelly. — Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 22 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for janitor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for janitor
  1. custodian
  2. porter
  3. keeper
  4. warden
  5. caretaker
Noun
  • In the cellar, Tait gives his wines the oversight of a custodian.
    — Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • Also striking in solidarity are members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299, which represents UC service workers, including medical technicians, therapists, custodians and food service workers.
    — Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of custodian
Noun
  • The chocolate maple porter beer making kit from the Brookly Brew Shop delivers a delicious dark chocolate flavor with a hint of maple syrup.
    — Christopher Murray, Fox News, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Many of the guides and porters on the mountain have been climbing for years and grew up in the Chagga villages on the slopes below.
    — Mary Robnett, Travel + Leisure, 17 Feb. 2025
Definition of porter
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
Definition of keeper
Noun
  • The Colorado Department of Corrections placed four leaders — including the wardens overseeing three state prisons — on administrative leave on the same day earlier this month, an agency official confirmed this week.
    — Shelly Bradbury, The Denver Post, 19 Mar. 2025
  • But the state has delayed those transfers until at least March 31, said Ray Sanchez, an assistant deputy warden.
    — Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of warden
Noun
  • The superdog drags our hero to his Fortress of Solitude, where his robot caretakers get to work healing him with the power of Earth's yellow sun.
    — Mike Miller, EW.com, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Moving forward, caretakers also hope to add additional accessibility features, like sloping ramps and more flat areas with mats.
    — Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of caretaker

Browse Nearby Words

jangly
janitor
janitors
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Cite this Entry

“Janitor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/janitor. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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