alert 1 of 3

alert

2 of 3

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

3 of 3

adjective

1
2
3
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 traffic alert was reported Wednesday at 9:47 p.m., and the last update concerning this incident was provided on Wednesday at 9:52 p.m. Kansas City Star, 7 Aug. 2025 The alert was also issued in El Dorado and Alpine counties. Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
The call consists of a line of notes that taper off as the sound spreads, alerting passersby to the presence of a creature in a nearby stream. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2025 The third-party Transit app has begun using the agency’s data to alert riders when a scheduled bus has been canceled, the Chicago Sun-Times first reported Monday. Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
However, despite all the efforts, only 11 percent of the ire has so far been contained, and official continue to warn residents to remains alert and follow evacuation orders. Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Aug. 2025 Here’s a breakdown of the four-tiered alert system from the NWS and what each level entails: Tsunami warning: Immediate action required This alert is issued when a tsunami that could result in widespread flooding is either expected or already underway. Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 30 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for alert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alert
Noun
  • The warning is for Greene, Lenoir and Pitt counties.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 13 Aug. 2025
  • By the end of July, The Wall Street Journal and CNN reported that Trump had received a warning from Attorney General Pam Bondi that his name appeared in Epstein's criminal investigation files.
    Jolene Almendarez, The Enquirer, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The bill in early March drew a significant fiscal note, which warned the costs of the legislation were hard to determine but the state could lose more than $1 billion in federal funding over the measure.
    Vivian Jones, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
  • Officials warned the road – known to flood even during seasonal high tides – could be impassable for days.
    Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Our brains interpret light as a signal to stay awake and darkness as a cue to fall asleep.3 Blue light, the type emitted by phones, sends an especially strong signal to the brain.
    Julia Ries, Health, 12 Aug. 2025
  • But just as these two were unable to stay awake through their first date, their adult bodies aren’t cut out for this trip down memory lane, either.
    Genevieve Koski, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Be cautious when corresponding with unfamiliar accounts.
    Tamia Fowlkes, jsonline.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • To be sure, companies are opting for cautious messaging around AI and its labor implications.
    Pia Singh, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The scaling hypothesis—the belief that bigger models will produce more intelligent outputs—seems to rest on the dubious belief that a system that has been fed enough information about the world will not have to deal with fuzziness.
    Meghan O’Gieblyn, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
  • Across a wide network, each unit can become intelligent by deploying state-of-the-art technologies and AI, but also by gaining easy access to insights from more successful locations.
    Andrei Danescu, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Isak himself stressed his happiness in the spring and featured in club kit promotions, hardly the actions of someone desperate for a quick exit.
    Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Here's a quick look at Cox plan options in Phoenix, based on the ZIP code 85014: Cox Fast: Starts at $50 per month for download and upload speeds of 300/30 Mbps for 24 months.
    Kara McGinley, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Republican Governor Tate Reeves speaks with supporters during an election night watch party at the Refuge Hotel & Conference Center in Flowood, Mississippi, on November 7, 2023.
    Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
  • But these videos were few and far between—other people can be an obstacle to running your life with the precision of a ticking watch.
    Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Child and pet safety: Be vigilant about never leaving young children and pets in vehicles without supervision, especially during periods of intense heat, as car interiors can quickly become extremely hot.
    Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2025
  • Prioritize child and pet safety: Be vigilant about never leaving young children and pets in vehicles without supervision, especially during periods of intense heat, as car interiors can quickly become extremely hot.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Alert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alert. Accessed 23 Aug. 2025.

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