shielders
Those who guard
Shielders is the plural of shielder—one who shields or protects.
The term gained specific currency during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK, where it designated people with serious health conditions advised to stay home to avoid infection: Shielders were told to avoid all non-essential contact.
Outside this context, shielders appears in gaming for characters with defensive abilities.
Those who shield others
- guardiansThose who protect others
- custodiansThose entrusted with care
- sentinelsGuards keeping watch
- wardensSupervisory officials of institutions
keepers · watchmen · escorts · preservers · safeguards · champions · rescuers · saviors
Vertical enclosing structures
- screensDisplays or filters
- partitionsBarriers dividing a space
- barricadesStructures preventing passage
- blockadesBarriers preventing passage
enclosures · fences · bulwarks · curtains · dams · dikes · hedges · obstacles
Protective head coverings
- bucklersSmall round shields
- aegisSponsorship and protection
- breastplatesArmor for the torso
- gauntletsProtective hand and wrist armor
greaves · chainmail · plating · carapace · shells · exoskeletons · visors · cuirass
Military personnel who fight
- infantryGround combat troops
- phalanxMassed infantry formation
- legionariesRoman military infantrymen
- hoplitesAncient Greek heavy infantry
garrison · vanguard · rearguard · flankers · skirmishers · centurions · pikemen · spearmen
Vehicle passenger restraints
- airbagsCrash-activated vehicle cushions
- gogglesSealed protective eyewear
- earplugsInsertable sound blockers
- lifejacketsWearable flotation devices
firewalls · insulation · surge protectors · smoke detectors · safety nets · handrails · hard hats · face masks
defenders
Those who shield others
- guardiansThose who protect others
- custodiansThose entrusted with care
- sentinelsGuards keeping watch
wardens · keepers · watchmen · escorts · preservers · safeguards · champions · rescuers · saviors · bodyguards
walls
Vertical enclosing structures
- screensDisplays or filters
- partitionsBarriers dividing a space
- barricadesStructures preventing passage
blockades · enclosures · fences · bulwarks · curtains · dams · dikes · hedges · obstacles · ramparts
helmets
Protective head coverings
- bucklersSmall round shields
- aegisSponsorship and protection
- breastplatesArmor for the torso
gauntlets · greaves · chainmail · plating · carapace · shells · exoskeletons · visors · cuirass · pauldrons
soldiers
Military personnel who fight
- infantryGround combat troops
- phalanxMassed infantry formation
- legionariesRoman military infantrymen
hoplites · garrison · vanguard · rearguard · flankers · skirmishers · centurions · pikemen · spearmen · testudo
seatbelts
Vehicle passenger restraints
- airbagsCrash-activated vehicle cushions
- gogglesSealed protective eyewear
- earplugsInsertable sound blockers
lifejackets · firewalls · insulation · surge protectors · smoke detectors · safety nets · handrails · hard hats · face masks · guardrails
shieldersexposers
Those who reveal secrets
threateners · betrayers · revealers · abandoners · saboteurs
shieldersattackers
Those launching offensive action
aggressors · assailants · offenders · assaulters · strikers