as in vigilance
the state of being constantly attentive and responsive to signs of opportunity, activity, or danger
it was only her motherly watchfulness that saved the boy from an accident
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of watchfulness
But the book’s ruminative watchfulness is unsuccessfully conjugated in this overly sedate play with music, which has the feel of a song cycle, though sung by the fine cast with gorgeous, lonely sorrow.
—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
19 June 2026
Hong Kong icon Tony Leung has channeled brooding urban energy for the masterpieces of Wong Kar-Wai, balancing the debonair ennui of Marcello Mastroianni with the quiet watchfulness of Montgomery Clift.
—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
8 May 2026
In nine short, potent chapters, Beckerman lays out the essential traits of an effective dissident — loyalty, recklessness and watchfulness, among them — to illustrate how communities of resistance are built from the ground up.
—
Marc Weingarten,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
A lot of this involves watchfulness—noticing what the preferring mind (that is, the editing mind) as put in place, and accepting it, and building upon it.
—
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
With calm resolve, the United States and the European Union have each made decisions in recent days showing a firm watchfulness against big-power aggression.
—
The Christian Science Monitor,
Christian Science Monitor,
19 Dec. 2025
This patience is watchfulness, not idleness.
—
Francois Botha,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
19 June 2026
Hong Kong icon Tony Leung has channeled brooding urban energy for the masterpieces of Wong Kar-Wai, balancing the debonair ennui of Marcello Mastroianni with the quiet watchfulness of Montgomery Clift.
—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
8 May 2026
In nine short, potent chapters, Beckerman lays out the essential traits of an effective dissident — loyalty, recklessness and watchfulness, among them — to illustrate how communities of resistance are built from the ground up.
—
Marc Weingarten,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
A lot of this involves watchfulness—noticing what the preferring mind (that is, the editing mind) as put in place, and accepting it, and building upon it.
—
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
With calm resolve, the United States and the European Union have each made decisions in recent days showing a firm watchfulness against big-power aggression.
—
The Christian Science Monitor,
Christian Science Monitor,
19 Dec. 2025
This patience is watchfulness, not idleness.
—
Francois Botha,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watchfulness
Noun
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Constant vigilance and education around water safety is essential.
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When people understand the stakes and see peers celebrated for vigilance, the habit forms itself.
Noun
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In some cases, people who were previously deficient in certain B vitamins may notice a sudden increase in energy or alertness once supplementation begins.
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The screens influenced more than her alertness.
Noun
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Epstein said the stunt doubles as a virtual watch party for fans who couldn't make it to New York.
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The consumer version compresses that same idea into a ring, watch or app.
Noun
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Newer models have advanced driver-assistance features, such as automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist and blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts.
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Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust’s portfolio.
Noun
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That attentiveness showed up in small ways throughout our stay.
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In the past 15 years, and especially in the last five, our city has seen an influx of pizza restaurants and chefs who’ve brought a diversity of styles and an attentiveness to elevated ingredients and approaches.
Cite this Entry
“Watchfulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watchfulness. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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