hypervigilant
adjective
hy·per·vig·i·lant
ˌhī-pər-ˈvi-jə-lənt 
variants
or hyper-vigilant
: extremely or excessively vigilant : highly or abnormally alert to potential danger or threat
After an accident or an assault, most people tend to feel unsafe, to have a reduced startle threshold, and to be hypervigilant.—
Irvin D. Yalom
Irvin D. YalomThrough its hypervigilant security measures, this state-run airline keeps its passengers safe from everyone except its own surly flight attendants.—Craig Offman
Craig OffmanWe all have to be hyper-vigilant about our own affairs and those of our kids and elderly loved ones.—Teresa Dixon Murray
Teresa Dixon MurrayExamples of hypervigilant in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Formal regulation may take time, but to generate and maintain widespread societal buy-in, companies should be hypervigilant in enforcing guardrails to ensure safe and appropriate use.
—François Candelon, Fortune, 1 Dec. 2023
Torres is hypervigilant because Ecuador is increasingly at the confluence of two global trades: bananas and cocaine.
—Regina Garcia Cano, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2023
With Mercury spinning retrograde in hypervigilant Virgo from August 23 until September 15, laser focus is required to stay on top of all the things.
—The Astrotwins, ELLE, 1 Sep. 2023
Since then, the Browns have been hypervigilant about the NFL’s ban on electronic devices during games, and routinely educate their players on the rules.
—cleveland, 18 Aug. 2023
In one group session, hypervigilant warriors struggled to comply with instructions to keep their eyes closed.
—Nicole Tung, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2023
For many Americans, the warmer spring and summer months bring backyard barbecues and scenic hikes — along with a chorus of cicadas, mosquitoes galore, and hypervigilant self-checks for ticks.
—Bree Iskandar, STAT, 27 July 2023
During the early phases of the pandemic, millions were confined to their homes and asked to remain hypervigilant in public settings.
—Eleanor Cummins, The New Republic, 6 June 2023
And that officers are trained to be hypervigilant about their own safety.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 27 May 2023
François Candelon, Fortune, 1 Dec. 2023
Torres is hypervigilant because Ecuador is increasingly at the confluence of two global trades: bananas and cocaine.
—Regina Garcia Cano, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2023
With Mercury spinning retrograde in hypervigilant Virgo from August 23 until September 15, laser focus is required to stay on top of all the things.
—The Astrotwins, ELLE, 1 Sep. 2023
Since then, the Browns have been hypervigilant about the NFL’s ban on electronic devices during games, and routinely educate their players on the rules.
—cleveland, 18 Aug. 2023
In one group session, hypervigilant warriors struggled to comply with instructions to keep their eyes closed.
—Nicole Tung, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2023
For many Americans, the warmer spring and summer months bring backyard barbecues and scenic hikes — along with a chorus of cicadas, mosquitoes galore, and hypervigilant self-checks for ticks.
—Bree Iskandar, STAT, 27 July 2023
During the early phases of the pandemic, millions were confined to their homes and asked to remain hypervigilant in public settings.
—Eleanor Cummins, The New Republic, 6 June 2023
And that officers are trained to be hypervigilant about their own safety.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 27 May 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hypervigilant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near hypervigilant
Cite this Entry
“Hypervigilant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypervigilant. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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