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 starting materials are usually the officer’s observations and the crash diagram, plus statements from occupants and independent witnesses about who was sitting where and what each person was doing before impact. — Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026 For Caroline Blaike, a poet and dancer at Jumbo’s, the connection between dancing and writing lies in observation. — Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026 But at his Jackson Hole speech on August 28, Warsh dropped the ambiguity, walking through what UBS economists counted as 20 separate hawkish observations. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2026 Those observations should reveal around 100,000 transiting planets. — Thomas Fauchez, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for observation

Recent Examples of Synonyms for observation

Noun

The Moon enters Capricorn and your community zone, drawing your attention toward friends, groups, and people who share your interests.

— Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
As consumers use emerging tools like AI to explore different looks and try on silhouettes, this data is an early indication of the looks capturing consumers’ attention throughout the year.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of attention

Noun

Overall, the Bush administration’s misguided foray reinforced in the minds of many in the Middle East a distrust of America’s allegiances, commitments, and adherence to the protocols of the Geneva Conventions, a distrust that persists to this day.

— David Friend, Vanity Fair, 10 Sep. 2026
Catering to the Volume, Not the Power User From a purely capitalistic standpoint, power users who demand high literacy, strict prompt adherence, and investigative rigor represent a tiny fraction of Google's user base.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of adherence

Noun

At the same time, each frame builds upon the last to create a gripping, caustically funny narrative about patriarchy, disempowerment and compliance.

— Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
The Select Committee’s report also introduced key changes to ease the compliance burden for businesses, such as allowing New Zealand entities to submit existing Australian statements to satisfy local law and prevent double reporting.

— Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of compliance

Noun

When a car gets flagged, the racing team gets a note (copied to the FIA) and a short window to fix it.

— Patrick Iversen, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
The high note Giuliani left office on — after mulling avenues to stay in office past the limitation — burnished his public profile with lucrative results, said his 1993 campaign press secretary Ken Frydman.

— Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of note

Noun

The mindfulness content will include meditation exercises, but also content from doctors, therapists and psychologists, not to mention former ABC News correspondent Dan Harris, who left ABC five years ago to focus on his meditation company.

— Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026
On Malta, the adults-only Verdala Wellness Hotel, Corinthia Palace, Phoenicia, and ME Malta offer pools, spacious spas, focused workouts, and mindfulness activities designed to restore and rejuvenate the mind, body, and spirit.

— Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of mindfulness

Noun

The Orwellian parallels and Cold War overtones are strong on this particular planet, where a hive-mind entity enforces conformity through mass surveillance and zero-tolerance punishments.

— Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026
That sense of propriety was partly imposed upon him by his father, who, in covering up John’s misdeed, placed an albatross around his son’s neck, demanding his conformity to a narrow sort of principle.

— Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of conformity

Browse Nearby Words

observant

observation

observational

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Observation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/observation. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of observation

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on observation

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

volition

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18

Popular

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes