rearguard

Noun

Meaning

a detachment assigned to protect the rear of a (retreating) military body

Source: WordNet

Synonyms

support aid assistance defence barrier defender backup backstop guard at the back end forces at the tail defence from the rear guard at the rear end guardian at the rear forces at the back forces at the rear

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Antonyms

vanguard lead front avant-garde beachhead cutting edge

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Hypernyms

detachment

Phrases with the word

football rearguard fight a rearguard action

Examples

Let the winds of evidence blow you about as though you are a leaf, with no direction of your own. Beware lest you fight a rearguard retreat against the evidence, grudgingly conceding each foot of ground only when forced, feeling cheated. Surrender to the truth as quickly as you can. Eliezer Yudkowsky

The question is, will we continue to fight what may be a rearguard action to defend universal literacy as a central goal of our education system, or are we bold enough to see what's actually happening to our culture? Hugh Mackay

During the Noche Triste (June 30 – July 1, 1520), the Spaniards managed a narrow escape from Tenochtitlan across the Tlacopan causeway, while their rearguard was being massacred. Source: Internet

Aquila Legionis, 6 (2005) 19 forcing Trajan to come to the aid of the troops in his rearguard. Source: Internet

Likewise, Thabane was largely outmaneuvered within the ABC, with an opposing faction effectively taking over the party leadership, though Thabane has fought a fierce rearguard battle against this in court. Source: Internet

A rearguard of 200 to 300 Cossacks protected the river crossing; all of them were killed in battle rejecting surrender offers. Source: Internet

Close letter words and terms

rearend rearer rearfoot rearguard action reargue reargument