unguarded

American  

[uhn-gahr-did] / ʌnˈgɑr dɪd /

adjective

1. not guarded; guard; unprotected; undefended.

   Synonyms:

   defenseless

2. open; frank; guileless.

   an unguarded manner.

3. exposed to attack or capture by the opponent without recourse by the player, as a card, chess piece, etc..

   an unguarded queen of clubs; an unguarded pawn.

4. not cautious or discreet; careless.

   In an unguarded moment he had told her about his affair.

   Synonyms:

   indiscreet

5. without a safeguard, as a cover, barrier, or shield, for protection.

   an unguarded buzz saw.

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unguarded British  

/ ʌnˈɡɑːdɪd /

adjective

1. unprotected; vulnerable

2. guileless; open; frank

3. incautious or careless

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Other Word Forms

• unguardedly adverb
• unguardedness noun

Etymology

Origin of unguarded

First recorded in 1585–95; un- ¹ + guarded

Example Sentences

Upon seeing Clare’s unguarded sadness, a bit of the tortoise’s hard exterior cracked.

From Literature

And if there were, it meant a long diversion along the river until we found an unguarded bridge.

From Literature

I couldn’t stop watching his face, the unguarded feeling in his eyes as his hands dropped back to his sides.

From Literature

In the morning we said goodbye to Abu before we went out on the lake, and, for the first time, I saw that smile—a real, unguarded smile.

From Literature

Halfway through “Melania’s” 104-minute running time, it occurred to me that it would feel scandalous if Ratner so much as taped her doing something as human and unguarded as eating a bite of food.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• candid
• indiscreet
• offhand
• spontaneous