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 Christiansen is acutely aware that a lecture about soil health may not be the thing that pulls somebody in. Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2026 The goal is to be aware of your surroundings — not to be scared to travel, Rooney added. Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026 Boone said he wasn’t made aware of Judge’s injury until just before the right fielder was pulled from the game; the skipper noticed the hobbling during the fifth frame. Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026 Political leaders are aware that the conflict is slowing progress in the Ebola response. Stephanie Psaki, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for aware
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aware
Adjective
  • By putting the spa before the staterooms, this design flips the superyacht script from conspicuous consumption to conscious longevity.
    Chrissie McClatchie, Robb Report, 19 Sep. 2026
  • For years, Connecticut’s position atop the list of states with the priciest electric bills has served as an election-year mantra for Republicans and other critics of the state’s climate-conscious energy strategy.
    John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Words can cut deeply from Mercury’s moonwalk in Scorpio, so be cognizant of their ability to contribute to already fraught and tense situations.
    Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 22 Sep. 2026
  • And in fairness, there was a cognizant effort to keep Ohtani as rested as possible, including a season-long six-man rotation and an attempt to maneuver Ohtani’s starts to line up on games prior to a team off day, when possible.
    Katie Woo, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Guerin is mindful of not putting pressure on Hughes, who is weighing whether to sign now or keep his options open with unrestricted free agency less than a year away.
    Michael Russo, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Practicing mindful cleaning can contribute to a cleaner home, a more positive outlook on the process, and perhaps even a more peaceful mindset.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Democrats’ wary optimism about the midterms gave way to growing confidence this week.
    Dan Merica, Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2026
  • However, immigrant rights advocates are skeptical about this claim and wary about the lack of oversight of ICE agents.
    J. Toby Reiner, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Aware.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aware. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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