unguarded

U1N1G2U1A1R1D2E1D2

adjective

Having no guard or protection; vulnerable.

“I let out her secret in an unguarded moment.”

Similar
vulnerableunwary
OriginEnglish guarded ← Middle English un- ← Old English un- →
UncommonScrabble 12
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Meanings

adjectiveunguarded (comparative more unguarded, superlative most unguarded)

comparative more unguarded · superlative most unguarded

  1. Having no guard or protection; vulnerable.

    The unguarded gatehouse was soon taken by the invading army.

  2. Displaying a lack of caution or thought.

    I let out her secret in an unguarded moment.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectivelacking protection or a guard

Similar
vulnerable

adjectivedisplaying or feeling no wariness

Similar
unwary
Also see
susceptibleunwaryvulnerable

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*né
  2. Proto-Indo-European*n̥-
  3. Proto-Germanic*un-
  4. Proto-West Germanic*un-
  5. Old Englishun-
  6. Middle Englishun-
  7. Englishun-
  8. Englishguarded
  9. Englishunguarded

From un- + guarded.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek ἀφύλακτος
  • ἀφύλακτος (aphúlaktos)having no guards or protection
Bulgarian беззащитен
  • беззащитен (bezzaštiten)having no guards or protection
Cite this entry
APA

unguarded. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unguarded

MLA

“unguarded.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unguarded. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “unguarded,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unguarded.

Source: unguarded on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.