Definition of alivenext
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 My grandmother was still alive, living alone in Tehran. Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026 Year-round sunshine keeps the beaches, boating, and outdoor cafés alive with energy. Carrie Honaker, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Feb. 2026 To everyone out there, please keep your dreams alive! Sarah Weldon, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Feb. 2026 The neighborhood’s culinary identity dates back to late 19th-century Italian immigration, and that heritage is still very much alive in the dining scene here. Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for alive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alive
Adjective
  • Just off the gondola entrance sits Club Moritzino, one of the Dolomites’ most enduring mountain huts and a buzzing lunch and apres-ski destination.
    Chadner Navarro, Vogue, 10 Feb. 2026
  • From Montana to Colorado, here's where to find great powder, epic skiing, and buzzing après scenes out West.
    Caroline Tell, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Last year, though revenue and operating profit increased, non-operating red ink pushed the company into a full-year loss of NT$766 million, or $25 million.
    Russell Flannery, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
  • 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
  • Congress must strengthen protections for pre-existing conditions, expand coverage options including Medicaid incentives, empower Medicare negotiation of drug prices, and invest in mental health and rural care.
    Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
  • As for pre-existing ones, Boone said that Carlos Rodón, recovering from elbow surgery to remove loose bodies and shave down a bone spur, and Gerrit Cole, who underwent Tommy John surgery last spring, are doing well with their throwing programs.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Stamos-Buesig was aware at the time that Knox had recently been convicted of stealing money, but thought only a few thousand dollars had been taken.
    Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
  • Wexner’s attorneys told prosecutors Epstein owned a property about a half mile away and that Wexner’s security team was not aware of any inappropriate incident occurring on the Wexner property.
    Curt Devine, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • And within that galaxy, not only will stars live-and-die, and not only will star-formation cease once all of the gas has been consumed, but gravitational interactions will eject most of those stellar corpses, as well as the planet remnants that orbit them.
    Big Think, Big Think, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Since the product is live, Gibson believes that supporting local is better as small businesses have the time and labor to properly wash the crop and pick out the dead bugs.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Breakfast is a busy affair, but those in signature suites can eat in the lounge (soon to be renovated but with a great view) or order room service.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Feb. 2026
  • Soundstages in Los Angeles would be busy, thousands of people would be working in those few months early in the year, producing shows that ranged from all-time classics to all-time blunders.
    Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Protecting critical cable infrastructure NKT has announced that the T3600 subsea trencher is scheduled to be commercially operational in 2027.
    Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 21 Feb. 2026
  • That often doesn’t include operational costs like packaging and transportation, which have risen in the last year.
    Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • George is currently extant in a horrific form; the trademark having been bought by a conspiracy-theorist lawyer some years ago.
    Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Most car people would be challenged to count on the fingers of one hand the few British luxury car brands still extant (as distinct from pure sports cars like McLaren, Lotus, and Morgan).
    Robert Ross, Robb Report, 30 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Alive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alive. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.

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!