1. adjective [ADJECTIVE after verb, verb-link ADJECTIVE, ADJECTIVE noun]
If something is unguarded, nobody is protecting it or looking after it.
I should not leave my briefcase and camera bag unguarded.
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If you do or say something in an unguarded moment, you do or say it carelessly and without thinking, especially when it is something that you did not want anyone to see or know.
The photographers managed to capture Jane in an unguarded moment.
He was ambushed by a reporter into an unguarded comment.
Synonyms: careless, rash, unwary, foolhardy More Synonyms of unguarded
More Synonyms of unguarded
unguarded in British English
(ʌnˈɡɑːdɪd)
adjective
1.
unprotected; vulnerable
2.
guileless; open; frank
3.
incautious or careless
Derived forms
unguardedly (unˈguardedly)
adverb
unguardedness (unˈguardedness)
noun
unguarded in American English
(ʌnˈgɑrdɪd)
adjective
1.
having no guard; unprotected
2.
without guile or cunning; open
3.
careless; thoughtless; imprudent
Derived forms
unguardedly (unˈguardedly)
adverb
Examples of 'unguarded' in a sentence
unguarded
It is in those unguarded moments when the heart expresses its true nature.
Christianity Today (2000)
In unguarded moments he says he is just curious.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
One friend lost all hers when the fox learnt she would leave them unguarded when the phone rang.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In a single unguarded moment, the cat was released from the bag.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Her Majesty is far too experienced to be caught in an unguarded moment.
Brian Hoey AT HOME WITH THE QUEEN: The Inside Story of the Royal Household (2002)
All senior politicians get memos like this before interviews; few are unguarded enough to leave them in view.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
You just have to look at the pose: this is not a petulant man caught in an unguarded moment.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
For two years she followed him on the campaign trail, capturing unguarded moments between the increasingly staged photo opportunities.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We build walls where we need only a fence for protection, and leave ourselves unguarded where we need more solid support.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
After an initial search by police, the crime scene was left unguarded and open to the elements for two days before it was scrutinisedproperly.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Don't leave it unguarded - hot fat is volatile.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It is not, shall we say, the only unguarded comment that has our club chaperone squirming.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
After an initial search, police left the crime scene unguarded and open to rain, tides and curious visitors.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Just as long as he doesn't make any unguarded comments while the microphone is still on, of course.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
After an initial search, the stretch of beach where the bodies were found was left unguarded and open to rain, tides and curiousvisitors.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
1 (adjective)
Definition
unprotected
The U-boat entered in through a narrow unguarded eastern entrance.
Synonyms
unprotected
vulnerable
criminals who prey on the more vulnerable members of our society
defenceless
a leader who would leave the country isolated and defenceless
undefended
open to attack
unpatrolled
2 (adjective)
Definition
incautious or careless
He was tricked by a reporter into an unguarded comment.
Synonyms
careless
Office workers are notoriously careless about their passwords.
rash
Don't do anything rash until the feelings subside.
unwary
The hilly roads were slick enough to cause unwary drivers to skid.
foolhardy
He had to be restrained from foolhardy action.
thoughtless
It was thoughtless of her to mention it.
indiscreet
He is notoriously indiscreet about his private life.
unthinking
Bruce was no unthinking vandal.
ill-considered
He made some ill-considered remarks about the cost.
imprudent
an imprudent investment he made many years ago
heedless
She scattered the letters about in her heedless haste.
incautious
In case you think I was incautious, take a look at the map.
undiplomatic
impolitic
uncircumspect
Opposites
guarded
,
careful
,
cautious
,
wary
,
diplomatic
,
discreet
,
prudent
,
cagey (informal)
3 (adjective)
Definition
open or frank
Synonyms
frank
They had a frank discussion about the issue.
open
She has an open, trusting nature.
direct
She avoided giving a direct answer.
straightforward
I was impressed by his straightforward intelligent manner.
candid
a candid account of her life in the limelight
artless
his artless air and charming smile
guileless
She was so guileless that he had no option but to believe her.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of artless
Definition
natural or unpretentious
his artless air and charming smile
Synonyms
natural,
simple,
fair,
frank,
plain,
pure,
open,
round,
true,
direct,
genuine,
humble,
straightforward,
sincere,
honest,
candid,
unaffected,
upfront (informal),
unpretentious,
unadorned,
dinkum (Australian, New Zealand, informal),
guileless,
uncontrived,
undesigning
in the sense of candid
Definition
honest and straightforward in speech or behaviour
a candid account of her life in the limelight
Synonyms
honest,
just,
open,
truthful,
fair,
plain,
straightforward,
blunt,
sincere,
outspoken,
downright,
impartial,
forthright,
upfront (informal),
unequivocal,
unbiased,
guileless,
unprejudiced,
free,
round,
frank,
ingenuous
in the sense of defenceless
a leader who would leave the country isolated and defenceless
Synonyms
helpless,
exposed,
vulnerable,
naked,
endangered,
powerless,
wide open,
unarmed,
unprotected,
unguarded
Nearby words of
unguarded
ungraceful
ungracious
ungrateful
unguarded
unhallowed
unhandy
unhappiness
Synonyms of 'unguarded'
unguarded
Explore 'unguarded' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of direct
Definition
honest
She avoided giving a direct answer.
Synonyms
straightforward,
open,
straight,
frank,
blunt,
sincere,
outspoken,
honest,
matter-of-fact,
downright,
candid,
forthright,
truthful,
upfront (informal),
man-to-man,
plain-spoken
in the sense of foolhardy
Definition
recklessly adventurous
He had to be restrained from foolhardy action.
Synonyms
rash,
risky,
irresponsible,
reckless,
precipitate,
unwise,
impulsive,
madcap,
impetuous,
hot-headed,
imprudent,
incautious,
venturesome,
venturous,
temerarious
in the sense of guileless
She was so guileless that he had no option but to believe her.
Synonyms
artless,
open,
genuine,
simple,
natural,
frank,
innocent,
straightforward,
naive,
sincere,
honest,
candid,
truthful,
upfront (informal),
simple-minded,
unsophisticated,
dinkum (Australian, New Zealand, informal),
above-board,
ingenuous,
undesigning
in the sense of heedless
Definition
taking no notice
She scattered the letters about in her heedless haste.
Synonyms
careless,
reckless,
negligent,
rash,
precipitate,
oblivious,
foolhardy,
thoughtless,
unthinking,
imprudent,
neglectful,
inattentive,
incautious,
unmindful,
unobservant
in the sense of ill-considered
He made some ill-considered remarks about the cost.
Synonyms
unwise,
rash,
imprudent,
careless,
precipitate,
hasty,
heedless,
injudicious,
improvident,
overhasty
in the sense of imprudent
Definition
not carefully thought out
an imprudent investment he made many years ago
Synonyms
unwise,
foolish,
rash,
irresponsible,
reckless,
careless,
ill-advised,
foolhardy,
indiscreet,
unthinking,
ill-judged,
ill-considered,
inconsiderate,
heedless,
injudicious,
incautious,
improvident,
impolitic,
overhasty,
temerarious
in the sense of incautious
Definition
(of a person or action) careless or rash
In case you think I was incautious, take a look at the map.
Synonyms
careless,
rash,
reckless,
precipitate,
hasty,
negligent,
impulsive,
ill-advised,
unwary,
thoughtless,
unguarded,
indiscreet,
unthinking,
ill-judged,
imprudent,
inconsiderate,
heedless,
injudicious,
improvident
in the sense of indiscreet
Definition
incautious or tactless in revealing secrets
He is notoriously indiscreet about his private life.
Synonyms
tactless,
foolish,
rash,
reckless,
unwise,
hasty,
ill-advised,
unthinking,
ill-judged,
ill-considered,
imprudent,
heedless,
injudicious,
incautious,
undiplomatic,
impolitic
in the sense of open
Definition
honest and frank
She has an open, trusting nature.
Synonyms
frank,
direct,
natural,
plain,
innocent,
straightforward,
sincere,
transparent,
honest,
candid,
truthful,
upfront (informal),
plain-spoken,
above board,
unreserved,
artless,
ingenuous,
guileless,
straight from the shoulder (informal),
opN
in the sense of rash
Definition
acting or done without proper thought or consideration
Don't do anything rash until the feelings subside.
Synonyms
reckless,
hasty,
impulsive,
imprudent,
premature,
adventurous,
careless,
precipitate,
brash,
audacious,
headlong,
madcap,
ill-advised,
foolhardy,
unwary,
thoughtless,
unguarded,
headstrong,
impetuous,
indiscreet,
unthinking,
helter-skelter,
ill-considered,
hot-headed,
heedless,
injudicious,
incautious,
venturesome,
harebrained,
harum-scarum
Additional synonyms
in the sense of straightforward
Definition
(of a person) honest, frank, and open
I was impressed by his straightforward intelligent manner.
Synonyms
honest,
open,
direct,
genuine,
sincere,
candid,
truthful,
forthright,
upfront (informal),
dinkum (Australian, New Zealand, informal),
above board,
guileless
in the sense of thoughtless
It was thoughtless of her to mention it.
Synonyms
unthinking,
stupid,
silly,
careless,
regardless,
foolish,
rash,
reckless,
mindless,
negligent,
inadvertent,
ill-considered,
tactless,
absent-minded,
imprudent,
slapdash,
neglectful,
heedless,
slipshod,
inattentive,
injudicious,
remiss (formal),
unmindful,
unobservant,
ditsy or ditzy (slang)
in the sense of undefended
Synonyms
vulnerable,
exposed,
naked,
wide open,
unarmed,
unprotected,
defenceless,
unguarded,
open to attack,
unfortified
in the sense of unthinking
Definition
done or happening without careful consideration
Bruce was no unthinking vandal.
Synonyms
impulsive,
senseless,
unconscious,
mechanical,
rash,
careless,
instinctive,
oblivious,
negligent,
unwitting,
witless,
inadvertent,
heedless,
unmindful
in the sense of unwary
Definition
not careful or cautious and therefore likely to be harmed
The hilly roads were slick enough to cause unwary drivers to skid.
Synonyms
careless,
rash,
reckless,
hasty,
thoughtless,
unguarded,
indiscreet,
imprudent,
heedless,
incautious,
uncircumspect,
unwatchful
in the sense of vulnerable
Definition
able to be physically or emotionally hurt
criminals who prey on the more vulnerable members of our society