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alert

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verb

as in to warn
to give notice to beforehand especially of danger or risk alerted us to the possibility that the roads would be flooded and we might have to take a detour

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

alert

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adjective

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as in intelligent
having or showing quickness of mind an alert and well-trained sheep dog who can handle difficult situations

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective alert contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of alert are vigilant, watchful, and wide-awake. While all these words mean "being on the lookout especially for danger or opportunity," alert stresses readiness or promptness in meeting danger or in seizing opportunity.

alert traders anticipated the stock market's slide

When can vigilant be used instead of alert?

The synonyms vigilant and alert are sometimes interchangeable, but vigilant suggests intense, unremitting, wary watchfulness.

eternally vigilant in the safeguarding of democracy

When might watchful be a better fit than alert?

In some situations, the words watchful and alert are roughly equivalent. However, watchful is the least explicit term.

the watchful eye of the department supervisor

When could wide-awake be used to replace alert?

The words wide-awake and alert can be used in similar contexts, but wide-awake applies to watchfulness for opportunities and developments more often than dangers.

wide-awake companies latched onto the new technology

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 alert
Noun
The alerts have been issued amid strong onshore winds, which are known to create hazardous surf and powerful rip currents. Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025 Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said the shooting occurred after Remilien stopped a vehicle in connection to a license plate reader alert in the area of Versailles Road. Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
The man, named as 69-year-old Morimasa Hibino by the Japanese embassy, was spotted in the ditch next to the monument about seven meters (23 feet) below the street level by a priest who alerted authorities. Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025 This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Likewise, drivers should slow down and stay alert for animals crossing roads that might not be regularly patrolled. AFAR Media, 23 Oct. 2025 The baby was conscious and alert on the way to the hospital and she was admitted in stable condition, police said. Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for alert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alert
Noun
  • The blackout should come as little surprise to YouTube TV subscribers, who for the last week have seen announcements warning of a stalemate.
    Liam Reilly, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
  • The regulator is examining 142,600 units of the 2023-2024 Honda Pilot SUV for a possible malfunction in the rear seatbelt warning system, which may incorrectly alert drivers about passenger seatbelt usage.
    Nandan Mandayam, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This patience is watchfulness, not idleness.
    Francois Botha, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Macquarie’s head of economics, David Doyle, also speaking exclusively to Fortune, warned that this stimulus could fuel overheating by 2026 if inflation rebounds.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Haitians were warned the intensification of Melissa had increased the risks of flash floods and landslides.
    David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • But beneath the glamour and aesthetics, something deeper is keeping you awake past midnight.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
  • These parasomnias occur when the brain is partly awake and partly asleep.
    Brandon Peters, Verywell Health, 29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • To be sure, Wall Street overall is bullish on stocks, with many of the big firms ditching their cautious tones and urging investors not to bet against the market.
    Sarah Min, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Today, she is classified as having No Evidence of Disease (NED), meaning all detectable signs and symptoms of cancer are gone, a hopeful yet cautious place.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Conspiracy theorists claim intelligent aliens might be observing humanity’s weapons capabilities.
    Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2025
  • With the excitement and delusion of Humbert Humbert imposing a purple-prose narrative on his pedophilic assumptions, Hank speaks of his former student like a James Dean figure — beautiful, brooding and quietly intelligent.
    Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Need a hearty soup that's quick, tasty, and healthy this season?
    Nellah Bailey McGough, Southern Living, 30 Oct. 2025
  • This can be a quick way to improve your fiber intake without planning every meal.
    Merve Ceylan, Health, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In this episode, Marshall sets back his watch anyway.
    Jenny Porter Tilley, IndyStar, 27 Oct. 2025
  • The handsy thief also helped himself to the watch on my wrist.
    Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Alert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alert. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.

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