as in alert
paying close attention usually for the purpose of anticipating approaching danger or opportunity
the toddler played under the watchful eye of her parents
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Recent Examples of watchful
Reuters — American golfer Vince Whaley had a particularly nerve-wracking encounter with a big-toothed onlooker at the Sanderson Farms Championship on Sunday, as he was forced to play a shot under the watchful gaze of a lurking alligator.
—
Reuters, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025
The show follows Ed Gein (Charlie Hunnam), an unassuming and odd man, working his family’s farm under the watchful eye of his hateful and vicious mother, Augusta (Laurie Metcalf).
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
In honor of the October 31-holiday, the network has gathered together comedians Patton Oswalt, Rachel Dratch, Leslie Jones and Adam Pally to test their skills in the kitchen — all under the watchful eyes of judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Officials in Saturday’s late-night matchup were watchful of targeting and called two against the Spartans in the second quarter on back-to-back possessions.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for watchful
Reuters, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025
The show follows Ed Gein (Charlie Hunnam), an unassuming and odd man, working his family’s farm under the watchful eye of his hateful and vicious mother, Augusta (Laurie Metcalf).
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
In honor of the October 31-holiday, the network has gathered together comedians Patton Oswalt, Rachel Dratch, Leslie Jones and Adam Pally to test their skills in the kitchen — all under the watchful eyes of judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Officials in Saturday’s late-night matchup were watchful of targeting and called two against the Spartans in the second quarter on back-to-back possessions.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for watchful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watchful
Adjective
-
Be alert to anything that seems suspicious; this could be a person’s behavior, unclaimed packages, unusual activity, and vehicles.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Residents are advised to remain alert to rapidly changing weather conditions and to follow safety guidance from local emergency officials.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Stay informed, stay vigilant, and prioritize safety when enjoying the surf.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Oct. 2025
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People residing along the Eastern Seaboard, particularly those in coastal areas, are urged to follow local weather guidance and remain vigilant as the storm takes shape.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Pam Bondi got to tilt her neck up to stay awake.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Oct. 2025
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One major discrepancy came from how long children were awake without parents realizing it.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Oct. 2025
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Integrating such a messy light source into a silicon photonics chip required careful engineering.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Watchful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watchful. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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