1
as in focused
having the mind fixed on something
Susan became particularly attentive when the sportscaster turned to women's tennis, her favorite sport
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in thoughtful
given to or made with heedful anticipation of the needs and happiness of others
an attentive neighbor who helps out whenever and wherever she spots a need
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in alert
paying close attention usually for the purpose of anticipating approaching danger or opportunity
if only for your own safety, you need to stay attentive when you are hunting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 attentive
Successful pest management in the rose garden always begins with attentive, hands-on care.
—
Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
An attentive host, Parks often set the mood for the night with tea lights and special candles.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2026
The firm functions with the structure and resources often associated with larger practices while maintaining a more personal and attentive client experience.
—Nia Bowers, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Not in a formal sense, but in a way that reflected their lives, attentive, patient, evolving.
—Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for attentive
Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
An attentive host, Parks often set the mood for the night with tea lights and special candles.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2026
The firm functions with the structure and resources often associated with larger practices while maintaining a more personal and attentive client experience.
—Nia Bowers, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Not in a formal sense, but in a way that reflected their lives, attentive, patient, evolving.
—Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for attentive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attentive
Adjective
-
Nashville felt too industry-laden, too focussed on streaming numbers and other markers of commercial success.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Part of the Republican administration's preparations to celebrate the 250th anniversary have included putting pressure on federal institutions, including the Smithsonian, to tell a version of history that is less focused on discrimination and episodes of racial violence.—
GARY FIELDS,
Arkansas Online,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Wiener is a thoughtful lawmaker who championed groundbreaking housing-deregulation laws, but in this case that San Francisco progressive won out.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The best Mother’s Day gift ideas aren’t always the most obvious—they’re the ones that feel personal, thoughtful, and just a little indulgent.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
His hair is frosted at the tips, carefully tousled; his eyes are alert, amused, ever-probing.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The office, which is responsible for coordinating during emergencies, was under scrutiny following the alert failures of the Eaton fire, and officials had promised in the aftermath to revamp the small office.—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Her class became immersed in movement from the start.—
Carla Hinton,
Oklahoman,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Despite the many improvements in virtual reality (VR) technology, with realistic visual and auditory content that makes the user feel immersed in the environment, the olfactory sense has not been as faithfully replicated in the medium.—
Shirl Leigh
March 31,
New Atlas,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Season 3 is not totally devoid of supporters and kind superlatives, particularly for the cinematography and Zendaya’s reliably impressive chops.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Some of the kinder ones would give a Christmas tip if the apprentices did a good job cleaning their boots but others, basking in the new money of the Premier League, preferred to peacock.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Officials have recommended people stay vigilant and have an emergency plan in case of a snake bite, including knowing their location, trail names and GPS coordinates.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Parents should be extra vigilant because this is an accident-prone day for your kids.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Unabsorbed calcium leaves the body through stool, and absorbed calcium that isn't needed may be filtered by the kidneys and leave in urine—often within about a day.—
Sarah Jividen,
Verywell Health,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The absorbed or scattered light creates a unique pattern called the spectrum, which is effectively the substance’s fingerprint.—
Ambuj Tewari,
The Conversation,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Sheriff Jim Cooper lauded Lester’s leadership capabilities, work ethic and caring nature.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Ryyan's parents describe him as humble, caring, and deeply supportive.—
Kennedy Cook,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Attentive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attentive. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
