as in watch
the state of being constantly attentive and responsive to signs of opportunity, activity, or danger
the paparazzi were on red alert for sightings of the hot new Hollywood couple
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 red alert
Big yikes, but Orgon can’t see the red alerts through his rosy glasses.
—
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025
The White House was briefly locked down with a condition red alert, which The New York Times notes signifies a possible threat to life.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 27 Nov. 2025
Losing Jackson for any more games would certainly put the franchise on a red alert situation, as Cooper Rush did not spark much confidence in his starts with Jackson out.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
On Saturday, the South and Grand’Anse regions of Haiti were both upgraded to red alerts by the National Disaster Risk Management System.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for red alert
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025
The White House was briefly locked down with a condition red alert, which The New York Times notes signifies a possible threat to life.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 27 Nov. 2025
Losing Jackson for any more games would certainly put the franchise on a red alert situation, as Cooper Rush did not spark much confidence in his starts with Jackson out.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
On Saturday, the South and Grand’Anse regions of Haiti were both upgraded to red alerts by the National Disaster Risk Management System.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for red alert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for red alert
Noun
-
At a game watch party in Mariachi Plaza in Boyle Heights, one of Los Angeles’ most historic and prominent Mexican American communities, the crowd was nearly entirely dressed in Mexico’s forest green.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
But thousands still had a chance to celebrate at watch parties across the city, including one in Brooklyn where fans turned an early morning bar crowd into a full-on celebration.—
Hannah Kliger,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
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
Noun
-
Do not burn debris or other items during an air quality alert.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
17 June 2026
-
Some of the women said the male operators assaulted them after soliciting them for jet ski rides from small islands just east of Paradise Island, downtown Nassau, and Paradise Island beaches, according to the security alert.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
At the same time, those who are well-hydrated before bed and again in the morning tend to experience improvements in alertness and reaction speed.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Verywell Health,
19 June 2026
-
Your chronotype is driven by the circadian rhythm, the body's internal clock that regulates sleep, alertness, and other daily functions, explains Jennifer Martin, a professor at Florida International University's College of Medicine.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Being assistant to the president for National Security Affairs is a grueling job requiring 24/7 vigilance.—
Arthur House,
Hartford Courant,
15 June 2026
-
That vigilance is itself a form of labor — invisible, unmeasured, and relentless.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Red alert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/red%20alert. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
