Definition of awarenext

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective aware contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of aware are alive, awake, cognizant, conscious, and sensible. While all these words mean "having knowledge of something," aware implies vigilance in observing or alertness in drawing inferences from what one experiences.

aware of changes in climate

How are the words alive and sensible related as synonyms of aware?

Alive adds to sensible the implication of acute sensitivity to something.

alive to the thrill of danger

When could awake be used to replace aware?

While the synonyms awake and aware are close in meaning, awake implies that one has become alive to something and is on the alert.

a country always awake to the threat of invasion

When might cognizant be a better fit than aware?

While in some cases nearly identical to aware, cognizant implies having special or certain knowledge as from firsthand sources.

not fully cognizant of the facts

When is it sensible to use conscious instead of aware?

In some situations, the words conscious and aware are roughly equivalent. However, conscious implies that one is focusing one's attention on something or is even preoccupied by it.

conscious that my heart was pounding

In what contexts can sensible take the place of aware?

The words sensible and aware are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sensible implies direct or intuitive perceiving especially of intangibles or of emotional states or qualities.

sensible of a teacher's influence

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 aware Until then, most people were not aware of the federal requirement that makes paying a cyber ransom without notifying the Department of Commerce a felony because of the potential risk of funding terrorism. Scott Sumner, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026 Parents should be aware of problems that can be caused by wildfire smoke and heat, Schifter says. Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 17 July 2026 Just be aware that Ptown attracts quite a crowd in the summertime. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 17 July 2026 Odysseus is all too aware of his own role in undermining Zeus’ law with his Trojan horse. Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for aware
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aware
Adjective
  • For Bridges, the record represents a conscious effort to offer some light at a time when that can feel increasingly elusive.
    SPIN Staff, SPIN, 17 July 2026
  • The person who started that rumor is the present-day, extremely status-conscious Queen Dowager (Our Unwritten Seoul’s Jang Young-nam), who is furious at the idea her husband would make a lowly maid a concubine.
    Kayti Burt, Time, 17 July 2026
Adjective
  • Even while going for a World Series three-peat, Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman remains cognizant of future considerations, attempting to load up in the offseason to avoid exorbitant prices at the deadline.
    Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 16 July 2026
  • The songwriting is airtight, regal but sometimes necessarily absurd, and tastefully cognizant of which points in Madonna’s career are most beloved.
    Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 6 July 2026
Adjective
  • Errant thoughts will still arise (the laundry, the email, the certainty that your opening scene is a disaster) but in a mindful state, those thoughts are observable.
    April Dávila, Literary Hub, 22 July 2026
  • From mechanical execution to mindful and continuously evolving discernment.
    Sid Mohasseb, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Adjective
  • Others like Cotton were reminded of past natural disasters, leaving them wary of stepping outside.
    Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • Such outlets may become wary of pursuing stories that could put them in the Administration’s crosshairs.
    Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 18 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Aware.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aware. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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