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as in custodians
a person who takes care of a property sometimes for an absent owner got a job as the night janitor at the elementary school
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2
as in porters
a person who tends a door according to popular Christian tradition, St. Peter acts as janitor at heaven's pearly gates
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of janitors The former series brought aliens to Earth; the latter followed two janitors accidentally launched into space. —
Carmel Dagan, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026 These outsourced workers received markedly lower wages than janitors who worked directly for Harvard. —John Cassidy, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026 As university officials weigh how to respond to the professors’ strike, simultaneous negotiations with the UPI chapter representing the university’s support staff, which includes janitors, office administrators and culinary workers, will also be underway. —Jack O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026 More than 60% of janitors, cooks, home health aids, construction workers and landscapers are immigrants. —Sara Dinatale, San Francisco Chronicle, 25 Mar. 2026 Columbia students, along with outside agitators, broke into an academic building and temporarily detained the janitors inside. —Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026 Occupations such as construction laborers, janitors, electricians, barbers, and bartenders, may largely be in the clear, whereas accountants, office clerks, customer service reps, and software developers could be the hardest hit. —Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 18 Mar. 2026 The documents also detail the scale of the personnel required to build and manage the temporary lock-up, from janitors to laundry workers to cooks, translators to legal case managers to IT staff. —Kate Payne, Sun Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2026 Jobs, like cashiers and janitors, are least exposed to AI, while secretaries and administrative assistants are most impacted, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. —Jessica Ma, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
Carmel Dagan, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026 These outsourced workers received markedly lower wages than janitors who worked directly for Harvard. —John Cassidy, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026 As university officials weigh how to respond to the professors’ strike, simultaneous negotiations with the UPI chapter representing the university’s support staff, which includes janitors, office administrators and culinary workers, will also be underway. —Jack O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026 More than 60% of janitors, cooks, home health aids, construction workers and landscapers are immigrants. —Sara Dinatale, San Francisco Chronicle, 25 Mar. 2026 Columbia students, along with outside agitators, broke into an academic building and temporarily detained the janitors inside. —Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026 Occupations such as construction laborers, janitors, electricians, barbers, and bartenders, may largely be in the clear, whereas accountants, office clerks, customer service reps, and software developers could be the hardest hit. —Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 18 Mar. 2026 The documents also detail the scale of the personnel required to build and manage the temporary lock-up, from janitors to laundry workers to cooks, translators to legal case managers to IT staff. —Kate Payne, Sun Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2026 Jobs, like cashiers and janitors, are least exposed to AI, while secretaries and administrative assistants are most impacted, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. —Jessica Ma, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for janitors
Noun
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Under the agreement, the Sheridan School District will re-recognize the union and add classified staff — such as custodians and paraprofessionals — to the bargaining unit.— Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
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The news comes as Broadway production company Seaview announced the acquisition of the revival rights from the new custodians of the Tennessee Williams estate.— Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But in advance of the possible doorman and porters strike scheduled to start Monday at midnight, folks all over town are reviewing building-management contingency plans warning of everything from extra chores to bans on moves.— Anne Kadet, Curbed, 17 Apr. 2026
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The deal was announced at a news conference Friday afternoon, preventing a strike by some 34,000 handypersons, supers, porters and doorpersons that could've gotten underway next week.— Doug Williams, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Buttercup and her pups are being monitored by animal keepers and veterinary staff.— Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
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Buttercup and her babies are being monitored by animal keepers and veterinary staff, and the pair are sometimes taken off exhibit to limit crowd exposure.— Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The state wardens and other cops who knew and worked with Bob Markle weren’t just honoring his memory by attending his funeral.— Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
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Armas said the prison wardens never switched off the lights.— Manuel Rueda, NPR, 20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Later that year, it was sold again and began a four-decade stay with various caretakers in California.— Howard Walker, Robb Report, 21 Apr. 2026
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Parents or caretakers of any unvaccinated child who contracts the virus are advised to make sure the child has lots of fluids.— Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Janitors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/janitors. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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