surveillance

noun

sər-ˈvā-lən(t)s How to pronounce surveillance (audio)
Definition of surveillancenext
1
as in stewardship
the duty or function of watching or guarding for the sake of proper direction or control a neutral country charged with the surveillance of the post-war rebuilding effort

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
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 And then there was, of course, the 2013 surveillance video that caught Paxton pocketing a man’s $1,000 Montblanc pen. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 30 Oct. 2026 Police were able to arrest McDermitt and charge him with Fox’s murder after finding surveillance footage of his car driving to her home the night of the murder. — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2026 The current lawsuit also cites such similar examples, and explains the role of social media surveillance. — Varsha Bansal, Christian Science Monitor, 29 Oct. 2026 Aber Kawas, the presumptive state senator candidates in Queens and an ally of Mamdani, bashed the surveillance decision on Wednesday. — Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 29 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for surveillance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surveillance
  1. stewardship
  2. watch
  3. supervision
  4. lookout
  5. oversight
  6. management
  7. control
  8. policing
Noun
  • Together with a global brand, WWF-China is addressing water stewardship in the Taihu River Basin, part of the Yangtze River Delta.
    — Sarah Jones, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • This is simply about the NBA, the entity that maintains executive stewardship over the WNBA, stepping up and managing its asset.
    — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of stewardship
Noun
  • Netanyahu’s opponents said he should be held accountable for the security failures that occurred on his watch and have demanded a commission of inquiry.
    — Giovanna Dell'Orto, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The president, meanwhile, has been trying to rally voters around the country, touting the economy as strong while downplaying the extent of inflation under his watch.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of watch
Noun
  • Budget for training, supervision and continuity alongside implementation.
    — Dr. Timothy J. Giardino, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The root of the conflict is the Colorado River Compact, negotiated in 1922 among the seven states of the Colorado watershed under the supervision of the then-Secretary of Commerce, Herbert Hoover.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of supervision
Noun
  • The popular lookout had the highest count of vehicle burglaries among parks in five of the six years analyzed.
    — Data Reporter, Austin American Statesman, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The Sierra County Sheriff’s Office said the group was found on the Sierra Buttes, just south of a lookout tower near the mountain’s summit.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of lookout
Noun
  • Gaps in governance, limited visibility into usage and costs, and restrictive vendor terms further complicate oversight—underscoring the need for stronger cost controls as organizations scale AI.
    — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2026
  • By weeks 8–12, deploy the model in production with human oversight and a robust governance framework.
    — Santanu Boral, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of oversight
Noun
  • These private, elevated spaces so intrinsic to the character of the property will remain closed to the public while management seeks a practical solution.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Savannah River National Laboratory conducts research involving nuclear materials, environmental management, energy technologies, and national security.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of management
Noun
  • Following a sloppy start Friday on the offensive end and an underwhelming start on the defensive end, the Heat flipped a switch midway through the second quarter to take complete control of the game.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2026
  • The race is among a handful of Senate contests this year expected to determine control of the chamber.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of control
Noun
  • Portugal hasn’t seen the scale of violence, arson and looting witnessed in some other European countries, although protesters have complained about heavy-handed policing during the removal of tents erected in city squares.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Policy responses to this crisis have largely focused on policing, prosecution and tougher penalties.
    — Charles Wratto, The Conversation, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of policing

Browse Nearby Words

surveil
surveillance
surveillances
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Cite this Entry

“Surveillance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surveillance. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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