OBSERVATION Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

observation

noun

ˌäb-sər-ˈvā-shən

Definition of observation

as in attention

a state of being aware it has come to my observation that you've been missing a lot of school lately

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in adherence

the following of a custom, rule, or law a society in which a strict observation of business etiquette is expected of visiting foreigners

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 observation The Pope's surgery, which the doctors said was successful, lasted about 90 minutes, after which Leo awoke normally and, following a brief period of observation, returned to his room on the hospital's 10th floor. — Scott Detrow, NPR, 13 Oct. 2026 Sir Ken McCallum, director general of MI5, explained this observation during his annual threat update at Thames House on Tuesday. — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026 The researchers used their observations to design a 3D model of the pumping chamber. — Mike McRae 12, New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2026 Confidence in elections is strengthened through transparency, professional election administration, lawful observation and respect for voters. — Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for observation

Recent Examples of Synonyms for observation

Noun

Amalia Ulman’s 2025 film Magic Farm, about an American team’s desperation to manufacture a viral trend in rural Argentina, is minor cringe for its pleasurable skewering of the attention economy.

— Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
No one was standing over my shoulder telling me to pay it special attention, but I was mesmerized.

— Joan Martelli, Time, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of attention

Noun

The humidity-resistant, child-resistant container can be composted or recycled, reducing plastic use by up to 71%; pharmacies can also brand the tube or print adherence instructions directly on it.

— Lauryn Higgins, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Morning sessions align with the body’s natural cortisol peak, and people who exercise early tend to finish before the day’s demands get in the way, which tends to help adherence.

— Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of adherence

Noun

The overt awareness of a ticking clock allows the smallest details to rise to the top.

— Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026
Morales, who has spoken publicly about her family’s experience with Alzheimer’s disease and the importance of awareness, joins a lineup of leading experts, advocates and innovators for the one-day event.

— THR Staff, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of awareness

Noun

To assure further compliance, Section 5 of the act required those states to get approval from the Justice Department or a court before making any changes to their electoral systems.

— Jeffrey Toobin, The New York Review of Books, 17 Oct. 2026
The agreement lasts for three years but could be cut short or extended depending on whether the parties mutually determine the city and Police Department have reached compliance.

— Sophie Bates, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of compliance

Noun

On the other, evidence suggests this pair of habitual time-wasters were commonly found on the floor, running laughter through a Yamaha SPX90 effects processor for kicks and strumming the same note for 40-odd minutes.

— Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
The opening of the III Points fest sounded a sour note for thousands of fans who poured into Wynwood for a weekend of music only to experience ticketing issues, delays and chaos among the crowd.

— Isabel Rivera, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of note

Noun

For meditation teacher Nico Cary, the cemetery is an ideal backdrop for mindfulness and a lesson in impermanence.

— Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
In addition to the Health Coach, the premium app membership provides access to Fitbit’s library of exercise content and mindfulness sessions.

— Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of mindfulness

Noun

Erdogan’s attempt to foster an Ottoman-style pan-Islamism appears to have accelerated liberalization rather than strengthened religious conformity.

— Mansoor Moaddel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026
But in the middle of this conformity rises building like the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, the Guggenheim in Bilbao, the Dancing House in Prague, the Harbin Opera House in China—original structures—no copies.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of conformity

Browse Nearby Words

observant

observation

observational

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Style

“Observation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/observation. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of observation

noun

Example Sentences

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