Definition of awarenext

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective aware contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of aware are alive, awake, cognizant, conscious, and sensible. While all these words mean "having knowledge of something," aware implies vigilance in observing or alertness in drawing inferences from what one experiences.

aware of changes in climate

How are the words alive and sensible related as synonyms of aware?

Alive adds to sensible the implication of acute sensitivity to something.

alive to the thrill of danger

When could awake be used to replace aware?

While the synonyms awake and aware are close in meaning, awake implies that one has become alive to something and is on the alert.

a country always awake to the threat of invasion

When might cognizant be a better fit than aware?

While in some cases nearly identical to aware, cognizant implies having special or certain knowledge as from firsthand sources.

not fully cognizant of the facts

When is it sensible to use conscious instead of aware?

In some situations, the words conscious and aware are roughly equivalent. However, conscious implies that one is focusing one's attention on something or is even preoccupied by it.

conscious that my heart was pounding

In what contexts can sensible take the place of aware?

The words sensible and aware are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 aware Moments of vulnerability or terror can maybe make people more aware of those around them. Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2026 Gluck is aware the movie’s setup is sparking more questions — Why does the ban exist in the first place? Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026 As music fans are well aware, vinyl is in the midst of a major resurgence. Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 The Importance of Adhering to Strong Frameworks Organizations must also remain aware that there are many existing frameworks in relation to security policies that can help IT teams lay the groundwork for strong AI security practices and protocols. Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for aware
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aware
Adjective
  • Celsius markets its energy drinks to athletes and health-conscious consumers and has exploded in popularity in recent years.
    Robert Frank, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Alison Brie and Dave Franco Celebrity power couple Alison Brie and Dave Franco, who have been together since 2012 and married since 2017, made a conscious decision not to have children.
    Sezin Devi Koehler, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • But with the interest rate environment subject to change in the months ahead and only the high-yield savings account poised to respond in real time, savers will need to be cognizant of the limits of each account type.
    Matt Richardson, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The biography, drawn from interviews with Altman as well as with more than 250 of his friends, family, and associates, casts a balanced portrait of a figure who is by turns self-effacing and cognizant of his unique place in history.
    Monitor reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • In addition, the club are eager to add to their attacking strength rather than to reduce it, and are mindful that Andoni Iraola, their new head coach, has not had a chance to work with Gakpo yet.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Be mindful of water, gas, or electrical connections, as some appliances should not be pulled out without first checking the manufacturer’s recommendations.
    Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 4 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The experts Fortune spoke with were wary of leaning too hard on age in this debate.
    Sydney Lake, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The communicators interviewed for this story were much warier of letting AI write public-facing material than of using it behind the scenes for research or other tasks.
    Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 8 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Aware.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aware. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on aware

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster