vigilant

adjective

vig·i·lant | \ ˈvi-jə-lənt

Definition of vigilant

: alertly watchful especially to avoid danger

Other Words from vigilant Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about vigilant

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Synonyms & Antonyms for vigilant

Synonyms

alert, Argus-eyed, attentive, awake, observant, open-eyed, tenty (also tentie) [Scottish], watchful, wide-awake

Antonyms

asleep

Choose the Right Synonym for vigilant

watchful, vigilant, wide-awake, alert mean being on the lookout especially for danger or opportunity. watchful is the least explicit term. the watchful eye of the department supervisor vigilant suggests intense, unremitting, wary watchfulness. eternally vigilant in the safeguarding of democracy wide-awake applies to watchfulness for opportunities and developments more often than dangers. wide-awake companies latched onto the new technology alert stresses readiness or promptness in meeting danger or in seizing opportunity. alert traders anticipated the stock market's slide

Examples of vigilant in a Sentence

Over the years, as tension between pitchers and hit batsmen heightened to the point that hitters began rushing the mound, umpires have had to become far more vigilant about keeping the game from degenerating into a dogfight. — Buzz Bissinger, Sports Illustrated, 21 Mar. 2005 At the Château de Wideville's magnificent seventeenth-century gates, guests have their names ticked off by vigilant staff and then snake through a lugubrious park à l'anglaise. — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, September 2002 And as a foreign tourist in North Korea, under the care of vigilant minders who wanted me to see only the best, I had enjoyed the finest fare available. — Christopher Hitchens, Vanity Fair, January 2001 A vigilant hand had, as usual, kept the fire alive and the lamp trimmed; and the room, with its rows and rows of books, its bronze and steel statuettes of "The Fencers" on the mantelpiece and its many photographs of famous pictures, looked singularly home-like and welcoming. — Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence, 1920 When traveling through the city, tourists should be extra vigilant. They were vigilant about protecting their children. We remain vigilant against theft.

Recent Examples on the Web

Sure, a father wouldn’t want his daughter to be a victim, but shouldn’t one be just as vigilant to make sure his sons don’t grow up to be perpetrators? — Los Angeles Times, "Column: The language used in the Antonio Brown case is telling," 14 Sep. 2019 Marie's story is interwoven, years later, with the perspectives of Detectives Karen Duvall (Wever) and Grace Rasmussen (Collette), exactly the kind of understanding and vigilant police officers Marie could have used. — Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, "Review: Netflix's 'Unbelievable' is a harrowing true crime must-watch," 13 Sep. 2019 Back on the meat-eater front, a vigilant lioness has stashed her fuzzy whelps in a granite rock outcropping to deter murderous hyenas and leopards. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Wild time on a Serengeti safari," 11 Sep. 2019 Could the team have been more diligent and vigilant in recognizing things earlier on and protecting him from playing? — Conor Orr, SI.com, "Andrew Luck Sets Tone for Players Affected By Mental Health | The MMQB NFL Podcast," 28 Aug. 2019 Continue to be cooperative and vigilant as technology and scammer techniques change. — Kieran Nicholson, The Denver Post, "Everyone hates robocalls. So the Colorado Attorney General is joining the fight to stop illegal calls.," 22 Aug. 2019 An ancient fear of pirates, especially, in the glassless porthole windows (small, to attract less attention) that seem like vigilant, doomy eyes. — Antonia Quirke, Condé Nast Traveler, "These Islands Near Sicily Might Be the Last Uncrowded Part of Italy," 22 Aug. 2019 Short of those answers, users should remain skeptical of misinformation online and vigilant against spreading it. — Alyssa Newcomb, Fortune, "Millions View Instagram Privacy Policy Hoax Shared by Rick Perry, Megan Rapinoe, Usher, and Julia Roberts," 21 Aug. 2019 This militant, vigilant Israel resonates with Trumpian Republicans. — Bernard Avishai, The New Yorker, "By Barring Two Congresswomen, Trump and Netanyahu Set a Trap for Democrats," 18 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vigilant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

11 Oct 2019

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Time Traveler for vigilant

The first known use of vigilant was in the 15th century

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More Definitions for vigilant

vigilant

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of vigilant

: carefully noticing problems or signs of danger

See the full definition for vigilant in the English Language Learners Dictionary

vigilant

adjective

vig·i·lant | \ ˈvi-jə-lənt

Kids Definition of vigilant

: alert especially to avoid danger … he was constantly vigilant, looking for the next nearest hiding place should the sound of engines come.— Lois Lowry, The Giver