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watch·dog
ˈwäch-ˌdȯg 
ˈwȯch-
1
: a dog kept to guard property
2
: one that guards against loss, waste, theft, or undesirable practices
watchdogged; watchdogging; watchdogs
: to act as a watchdog for
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
John Lynch, Arkansas Online, 28 Jan. 2023
Banks should be on alert for Russian oligarchs attempting to circumvent U.S. sanctions by investing in commercial real estate, a U.S. Treasury Department watchdog said.
—Dylan Tokar, WSJ, 25 Jan. 2023
About 20,000 protesters have been detained since the war began, according to OVD Info, a human rights watchdog.
—Nanna Heitmann, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2023
This week, a nonpartisan campaign finance watchdog filed a complaint with federal regulators alleging Santos had funneled money from unknown sources into his campaign in order to help get elected.
—Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2023
The subcommittee will supposedly act as a watchdog for ongoing criminal investigations, but an earlier version of the proposal limited the probe’s scope to the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Justice.
—Tori Otten, The New Republic, 10 Jan. 2023
High-dollar donations to an inaugural committee often run the risk of raising red flags, said Geoff Foster, the executive director of Common Cause Massachusetts, a good-government watchdog.
—Matt Stout, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Jan. 2023
The top brass within the Los Angeles County Probation Department hastily moved children out of Central Juvenile Hall not for reasons of safety but to avoid political embarrassment, according to a report released Friday from a county watchdog.
—Rebecca Ellisstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2022
Just days after retaking power, the Taliban reinstated the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice as a public morality watchdog tasked with enforcing the Taliban’s version of Islamic law.
—Sophie Tanno, CNN, 23 Dec. 2022
Eric Cortellessa, Time, 3 Jan. 2023
Shioso said the case is being handled by police watchdog the Independent Policing Oversight Authority.
—Azaz Syed, CNN, 9 Nov. 2022
Human rights watchdog OVD-Info said at least 1,252 people from 38 cities were arrested.
—Harold Maass, The Week, 22 Sep. 2022
Some watchdog nonprofit organizations even go as far as saying people should avoid them at all costs.
—Emily Rekstis, Allure, 27 July 2022
The delisting threat, targeted at Chinese audit firms, could also affect Russian ones if the authorities there won’t cooperate with the U.S. audit watchdog the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
—Jean Eaglesham, WSJ, 7 Mar. 2022
According to a recent report by the environmental and human rights watchdog Global Witness, Brazil — which includes a large part of the Amazon — was among the deadliest countries for environmental defenders, with 20 activists killed in 2020 alone.
—Lynsey Addario, CNN, 24 Dec. 2021
To watchdog groups, Clark has been a person of interest for months.
—Daniel Strauss, The New Republic, 14 Oct. 2021
Often, critics of the system contend, those officers end up policing in smaller jurisdictions, which may lack the resources to watchdog their conduct.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2021
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Noun
The accusations came at a time when the youth lockup was so crowded that a state watchdog labeled the facility as dangerous to children, some of whom had to sleep on mats, sometimes in rooms that had no toilet access.
—John Lynch, Arkansas Online, 28 Jan. 2023
Banks should be on alert for Russian oligarchs attempting to circumvent U.S. sanctions by investing in commercial real estate, a U.S. Treasury Department watchdog said.
—Dylan Tokar, WSJ, 25 Jan. 2023
About 20,000 protesters have been detained since the war began, according to OVD Info, a human rights watchdog.
—Nanna Heitmann, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2023
This week, a nonpartisan campaign finance watchdog filed a complaint with federal regulators alleging Santos had funneled money from unknown sources into his campaign in order to help get elected.
—Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2023
The subcommittee will supposedly act as a watchdog for ongoing criminal investigations, but an earlier version of the proposal limited the probe’s scope to the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Justice.
—Tori Otten, The New Republic, 10 Jan. 2023
High-dollar donations to an inaugural committee often run the risk of raising red flags, said Geoff Foster, the executive director of Common Cause Massachusetts, a good-government watchdog.
—Matt Stout, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Jan. 2023
The top brass within the Los Angeles County Probation Department hastily moved children out of Central Juvenile Hall not for reasons of safety but to avoid political embarrassment, according to a report released Friday from a county watchdog.
—Rebecca Ellisstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2022
Just days after retaking power, the Taliban reinstated the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice as a public morality watchdog tasked with enforcing the Taliban’s version of Islamic law.
—Sophie Tanno, CNN, 23 Dec. 2022
Verb
That same measure also contained provisions to effectively gut the Office of Congressional Ethics, the independent ethics watchdog on Capitol Hill that was preparing to investigate members who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
—Eric Cortellessa, Time, 3 Jan. 2023
Shioso said the case is being handled by police watchdog the Independent Policing Oversight Authority.
—Azaz Syed, CNN, 9 Nov. 2022
Human rights watchdog OVD-Info said at least 1,252 people from 38 cities were arrested.
—Harold Maass, The Week, 22 Sep. 2022
Some watchdog nonprofit organizations even go as far as saying people should avoid them at all costs.
—Emily Rekstis, Allure, 27 July 2022
The delisting threat, targeted at Chinese audit firms, could also affect Russian ones if the authorities there won’t cooperate with the U.S. audit watchdog the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
—Jean Eaglesham, WSJ, 7 Mar. 2022
According to a recent report by the environmental and human rights watchdog Global Witness, Brazil — which includes a large part of the Amazon — was among the deadliest countries for environmental defenders, with 20 activists killed in 2020 alone.
—Lynsey Addario, CNN, 24 Dec. 2021
To watchdog groups, Clark has been a person of interest for months.
—Daniel Strauss, The New Republic, 14 Oct. 2021
Often, critics of the system contend, those officers end up policing in smaller jurisdictions, which may lack the resources to watchdog their conduct.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2021
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'watchdog.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near watchdog
Cite this Entry
“Watchdog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/watchdog. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.
Kids Definition
watchdog
noun
watch·dog
ˈwäch-ˌdȯg,
ˈwȯch-
1
: a dog kept to guard property
2
: one that guards against loss, waste, theft, or dishonesty
More from Merriam-Webster on watchdog
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for watchdog
Nglish: Translation of watchdog for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of watchdog for Arabic Speakers
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