guarded

guard-ed · adjective, verb

imported

Definitions

adjective, verb

  1. 1.

    (adjective) Cautious and careful; not revealing much information or emotion.

  2. 2.

    (adjective) Protected by guards or surveillance.

  3. 3.

    (verb) Past tense and past participle of guard.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    guarded optimism — Cautious hopefulness
  • •
    guarded secret — Something carefully protected from disclosure
  • •
    closely guarded — Heavily protected or kept very secret

Related words

Antonyms: open, reckless, unguarded
See also: cautious, guard, protective, wary
Synonyms: careful, cautious, protected, wary

Etymology

From Old French garder ("to keep, guard") + -ed (past participle suffix), of Germanic origin related to ward.