Definition of surveillancenext
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as in watch
an act or period of watching for signs of activity, danger, or opportunity government surveillance of suspected terrorists

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 surveillance Spokesperson for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, Captain Jang Do-young, stated that the military had persistently tracked the activity using multiple surveillance assets. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026 Crime scene investigators collected evidence and sought witnesses and surveillance footage. — Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026 An incident report may contain the date and location of an accident, while surveillance footage may capture activity in a common area if the property uses cameras. — Emma Clapp, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026 The research also shows how online ads and ad targeting can be abused to enable mass surveillance, despite regulations. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for surveillance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surveillance
Noun
  • Although more brands are embracing recyclable packaging in the name of environmental stewardship, most don’t know if it’s actually being recycled.
    — Matt Alderton, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Proactive monitoring, compliance audits and documentation practices help anticipate regulatory shifts and demonstrate responsible stewardship.
    — Jennifer C. Wolfe, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Citi adds a positive watch on SpaceX The firm said SpaceX is firing on all cylinders following earnings.
    — Michael Bloom, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Altogether 228,000 additional Swiss watches were exported in September versus August.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The magistrate judge ordered the four released on personal recognizance and said they were not required to be under supervision.
    — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
  • That pressure, coupled with my lack of supervision and distraction with my own reporting, had led to my spectacular failure with Janet Cooke.
    — Bob Woodward, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The president’s plan announced Tuesday night would focus on releasing people who were considered gang collaborators, a blanket term that can include anyone from gang lookouts to people who make extortion payments.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Investigators said that several errors led to the deadly crash on July 28, 2025, including not assigning a lookout when his view was obstructed.
    — Morgan Rynor, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The case has led to calls for tougher oversight of churches and other religious organizations in a country where religious faith plays a prominent role in public life.
    — Jefferson Kahinju Reuters, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
  • In 2012 American entrepreneur Russ George spread roughly 100 tons of iron in the North Pacific, provoking international criticism that a commercial venture had begun geoengineering without adequate oversight.
    — Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • In doing so, the emirate has built resilience through diversified desalination, energy demand management, and long-term infrastructure planning.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Its eventual deployment could help the university explore how emerging aircraft fit into policing, emergency management, and engineering education.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • At the end of September, leaders of several of the biggest AI companies went to the White House and signed an accord committing to internal risk controls, independent audits and board-level oversight of safety.
    — Giorgos Tsetis, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • That includes colorblock styling, chunky knobs and physical controls, and simple shapes that make each device memorable and distinctive.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Florida Polytechnic University is preparing to bring a piloted electric aircraft into law enforcement, opening a new front in aerial policing.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
  • But this month, the most violent demonstrations in years — and tough policing — have raised concern about riots overshadowing hundreds of thousands of peaceful demonstrators marching against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Surveillance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surveillance. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

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