Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective conscious contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of conscious are alive, awake, aware, cognizant, and sensible. While all these words mean "having knowledge of something," conscious implies that one is focusing one's attention on something or is even preoccupied by it.

conscious that my heart was pounding

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

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

alive to the thrill of danger

In what contexts can awake take the place of conscious?

While in some cases nearly identical to conscious, 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 aware be a better fit than conscious?

In some situations, the words aware and conscious are roughly equivalent. However, aware implies vigilance in observing or alertness in drawing inferences from what one experiences.

aware of changes in climate

When can cognizant be used instead of conscious?

The synonyms cognizant and conscious are sometimes interchangeable, but cognizant implies having special or certain knowledge as from firsthand sources.

not fully cognizant of the facts

When is sensible a more appropriate choice than conscious?

The words sensible and conscious 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 conscious His mom, Natalie Hernandez, said the project instills positive life lessons, and teaches kids to be environmentally conscious. Yvette Fernandez, NPR, 9 June 2025 Perhaps there was a constructive thought behind the conscious decision to mute clubhouse reminders of that decade-old dynastic run. Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 8 June 2025 Justin Baldoni, Blake Lively, and Kendrick Lamar all got shout-outs in Fallon’s brief monologue about Trump and Elon’s conscious uncoupling. Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 6 June 2025 Alonso was conscious of this when speaking on Thursday in Spain. Luke Smith, New York Times, 31 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for conscious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conscious
Adjective
  • Having arrived from Mercedes in 2023, a team that had won nine Constructors' Championships, Vowles is aware of the mindset a winning team needs to have.
    Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
  • The federal police document said Bolsonaro was both aware of the scheme and its main beneficiary.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • Without deliberate human judgment, AI will only amplify hustle habits that keep us busy with everything, rather than prioritizing the few things that truly matter.
    Melissa Daimler, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
  • Instead, the change has occurred through the deliberate erosion of fundamental norms related to belonging and through the weaponization of once neutral institutions.
    ASHLEY J. TELLIS, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2025
Adjective
  • In recent days, the U.S. began pulling some diplomats from Iraq’s capital and offering voluntary evacuations for the families of U.S. troops in the wider Middle East.
    Christopher Bodeen, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2025
  • While admission to the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory is free, voluntary donations of $4 for adults and $2 for children are welcome.
    Molly Guthrey, Twin Cities, 19 June 2025
Adjective
  • Each intentional interaction builds a lasting structure, or building block, within, strengthening emotional intelligence, resilience, clarity and empathy.
    Chris Schembra, Rolling Stone, 26 June 2025
  • But for him and many other faceless video creators, the tradeoffs are intentional.
    Kolawole Samuel Adebayo, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • The intended target was immediately unknown to Newsweek.
    Anna Commander Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
  • Collateral arrest is when ICE agents are looking to arrest a person who is undocumented but an additional undocumented person, who was not the intended target, happens to be present; the agents can detain them as well, according to Immigrant Justice.
    Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2025
Adjective
  • Lawson will play Sarah Silver, the strong willed and decisive Superintendent in the Boston Police Department who is Lena’s stepsister.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 2 June 2025
  • Carnegie is convinced that sincerity is as easily willed as a ready smile and a memory for names.
    Ann Hulbert, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Conscious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conscious. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

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