1
2
3
4
5

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective alive contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of alive are awake, aware, cognizant, conscious, and sensible. While all these words mean "having knowledge of something," alive adds to sensible the implication of acute sensitivity to something.

alive to the thrill of danger

When could awake be used to replace alive?

In some situations, the words awake and alive are roughly equivalent. However, awake implies that one has become alive to something and is on the alert.

a country always awake to the threat of invasion

Where would aware be a reasonable alternative to alive?

While in some cases nearly identical to alive, aware implies vigilance in observing or alertness in drawing inferences from what one experiences.

aware of changes in climate

When would cognizant be a good substitute for alive?

While the synonyms cognizant and alive are close in meaning, cognizant implies having special or certain knowledge as from firsthand sources.

not fully cognizant of the facts

When can conscious be used instead of alive?

The words conscious and alive can be used in similar contexts, but conscious implies that one is focusing one's attention on something or is even preoccupied by it.

conscious that my heart was pounding

When is sensible a more appropriate choice than alive?

Although the words sensible and alive have much in common, sensible implies direct or intuitive perceiving especially of intangibles or of emotional states or qualities.

sensible of a teacher's influence

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 alive Coffee houses Coffee houses have been a thing for longer than most people reading this article have been alive. Katie Black, Charlotte Observer, 27 June 2025 Fifty hostages remain in captivity in the enclave, 20 of whom are believed to still be alive, according to the Israeli government. Kara Fox, CNN Money, 25 June 2025 But Jude had been alive then and with them on the trip. Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 15 June 2025 Yet when a message arrives from a potential client (Lily James) who needs his protection just to stay alive, Ahmed’s character abandons his own ironclad rules of communication. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 13 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for alive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alive
Adjective
  • Under Proposition 309, voters casting mail-in ballots could provide a driver's license or non-operating identification license number, the last four digits of a social security number, or a unique identifying number provided by the secretary of state for voter registration purposes.
    Arlyssa D. Becenti, The Arizona Republic, 27 Oct. 2022
  • The adjusted net income decreased by 8% y-o-y to $3.9 billion in the first nine months of 2022 due to higher expenses as a % of revenues and lower non-operating income.
    Trefis Team, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2023
Adjective
  • Having arrived from Mercedes in 2023, a team that had won nine Constructors' Championships, Vowles is aware of the mindset a winning team needs to have.
    Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
  • The federal police document said Bolsonaro was both aware of the scheme and its main beneficiary.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • For example, a conversational AI system might guide a patient through pre-visit instructions, post-discharge care or insurance questions, only escalating to a live agent when needed.
    Kamal Anand, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
  • The brand just dropped New Models, a live, reality TV-style casting show that’s part competition, part performance art, and 100% Telfar.
    Karissa Mitchell, Essence, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • Despite the setback in Denver, the couple has been busy in the meantime.
    Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 28 June 2025
  • As Lauryn was busy working at her warehouse alongside sister Jessica Shannon and her friend Paisley, June stopped by to inform them of her big plan.
    Dory Jackson, People.com, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • Catholic Charities itself did not respond to interview requests as of publication time but has shared financial and operational updates in periodic emails to volunteers and staff and in public blog posts.
    Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 23 June 2025
  • This was the second launch of a full load of operational satellites for Amazon's Project Kuiper, a network envisioned to become a competitor to SpaceX's Starlink.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • The only extant Civil War-era fort on the West Coast.
    Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
  • Yet a strong, and entirely distinct, island culture is extant.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • That early and incisive stance on monopoly power foreshadows the themes that animate Market Crafters.
    Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
  • The objects appear startlingly animate, as if bodies and ethnographic specimens are hanging on display.
    Jane Levere, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025
Adjective
  • Leaders who invest in the holistic health of their workforce can foster resilience, drive performance and cultivate a thriving organizational culture.
    Loubna Noureddin, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • What makes this destination particularly exciting to visit is the chance to explore its thriving arts scene.
    Essence, Essence, 18 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Alive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alive. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on alive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!