hypervigilance
noun
hy·per·vig·i·lance
ˌhī-pər-ˈvi-jə-lən(t)s 
variants
or hyper-vigilance
: extreme or excessive vigilance : the state of being highly or abnormally alert to potential danger or threat
A person suffering from PTSD may have sleep disturbances, irritability, hypervigilance, heightened startle responses and flashbacks of the original trauma.—
Ellen L. Bassuk et al.
Ellen L. Bassuk et al.One common trait among fearful fliers is hypervigilance; they often spend the entire trip watching the flight attendants, analyzing the chime system, and assessing the sounds of the engines.—Nancy J. Perry
Nancy J. PerryExamples of hypervigilance in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Abuse is characterized by warp speed development of a nervous system that detects threats, accompanied by hypervigilance, emotional turbulence, and out of control behavior.
—Marc D. Hauser, TIME, 3 Apr. 2024
For children who’ve experienced extreme loss, such hypervigilance is common, Salsabeel Zaeid, a psychologist working with children and families at the compound, told me.
—Eliza Griswold, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2024
Moreover, the pervasive nature of digital technology means that we’re constantly tethered to our devices, leading to a state of perpetual alertness and hypervigilance.
—Georgia Day, Glamour, 8 Mar. 2024
But the hypervigilance needed to code-switch can take a sharp toll and is linked to higher rates of stress and burnout, Durkee said.
—Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 1 Feb. 2024
Loneliness and isolation drive unbalanced activation of the sympathetic nervous system, leading to hypervigilance, or scanning the environment for threats.
—Clay Marsh, Fortune Well, 15 July 2023
Visconti’s work life was not only contributing to health issues, but also to a rise in stress and hypervigilance, which significantly impacted her quality of life.
—Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 23 Aug. 2023
Regardless of any individual object’s identification, however, the greater question remains: Can innocuous balloon flights for scientific research coexist with a new hypervigilance from the U.S. and other nations over potential hostile intrusions into sovereign airspace?
—Leonard David, Scientific American, 23 Feb. 2023
Other common side effects of long incarceration are hypervigilance and social withdrawal.
—Annalisa Quinn, BostonGlobe.com, 5 July 2023
Marc D. Hauser, TIME, 3 Apr. 2024
For children who’ve experienced extreme loss, such hypervigilance is common, Salsabeel Zaeid, a psychologist working with children and families at the compound, told me.
—Eliza Griswold, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2024
Moreover, the pervasive nature of digital technology means that we’re constantly tethered to our devices, leading to a state of perpetual alertness and hypervigilance.
—Georgia Day, Glamour, 8 Mar. 2024
But the hypervigilance needed to code-switch can take a sharp toll and is linked to higher rates of stress and burnout, Durkee said.
—Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 1 Feb. 2024
Loneliness and isolation drive unbalanced activation of the sympathetic nervous system, leading to hypervigilance, or scanning the environment for threats.
—Clay Marsh, Fortune Well, 15 July 2023
Visconti’s work life was not only contributing to health issues, but also to a rise in stress and hypervigilance, which significantly impacted her quality of life.
—Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 23 Aug. 2023
Regardless of any individual object’s identification, however, the greater question remains: Can innocuous balloon flights for scientific research coexist with a new hypervigilance from the U.S. and other nations over potential hostile intrusions into sovereign airspace?
—Leonard David, Scientific American, 23 Feb. 2023
Other common side effects of long incarceration are hypervigilance and social withdrawal.
—Annalisa Quinn, BostonGlobe.com, 5 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hypervigilance.' 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 hypervigilance
Cite this Entry
“Hypervigilance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypervigilance. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
hypervigilance
noun
hy·per·vig·i·lance
-ˈvij-ə-lən(t)s
: extreme or excessive vigilance : the state of being highly or abnormally alert to potential danger or threat
A person suffering from PTSD may have … hypervigilance, heightened startle responses and flashbacks—Ellen L. Bassuk et al.
Ellen L. Bassuk et al.Love words? Need even more definitions?
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