unguarded

adjective

un·​guard·​ed ˌən-ˈgär-dəd 

1

: vulnerable to attack : unprotected

2

: free from guile or wariness : direct, incautious

unguarded remarks

unguardedly adverb

unguardedness noun

Synonyms

• candid
• direct
• forthcoming
• forthright
• foursquare
• frank
• free-spoken
• freehearted
• honest
• open
• openhearted
• out-front
• outspoken
• plain
• plainspoken
• straight
• straightforward
• unreserved
• up-front

Examples of unguarded in a Sentence

I let the secret about the surprise party spill out in an unguarded moment.

the swimming coach quickly regretted his unguarded comments about the young swimmer's limitations

Recent Examples on the Web

The Wildcats drew contact regularly and were rewarded with an unguarded shot from the stripe. —Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2025

Eichel slipped the puck through to an unguarded Shea Theodore. —Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 8 Feb. 2025

That was evident in the unguarded words of three white Wilmington police officers in 2020, weeks after George Floyd’s killing. —Essence, 8 Feb. 2025

At the same time, hundreds of Syrian exiles streamed back into the country from Lebanon through unguarded border crossings. —Richard Engel, NBC News, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

unguarded

adjective

un·​guard·​ed ˌən-ˈgärd-əd 

1

: open to attack : unprotected

2

: not cautious : unwary

unguarded comments

unguardedly adverb