QUI VIVE Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

qui vive

noun

kē-ˈvēv

Definition of qui vive

as in watch

the state of being constantly attentive and responsive to signs of opportunity, activity, or danger an army on the qui vive for enemy attack

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for qui vive

Noun

On October 12, 2025, armed and masked thieves broke into the museum and made off with cash from the register and at least one watch.

— Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Ben Cook, a New York creator who posts about watches on TikTok, uses his Meta smart glasses to listen to music on runs and take hands-free calls.

— Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of watch

Noun

But the book’s ruminative watchfulness is unsuccessfully conjugated in this overly sedate play with music, which has the feel of a song cycle, though sung by the fine cast with gorgeous, lonely sorrow.

— Brian Seibert, New Yorker, 19 June 2026
Hong Kong icon Tony Leung has channeled brooding urban energy for the masterpieces of Wong Kar-Wai, balancing the debonair ennui of Marcello Mastroianni with the quiet watchfulness of Montgomery Clift.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 8 May 2026

Definition of watchfulness

Noun

Some residents went out of their way to witness the spectacle after getting social media alerts about a man who was trapped on a billboard.

— Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
The school district’s police department also has a therapy dog program, a reporting tool for families called the FortifyFL app and crisis alert badges for every school district staff member.

— Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of alert

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.

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quivers

qui vive

quixote

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“Qui vive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/qui%20vive. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of qui vive

noun

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