as in alert
paying close attention usually for the purpose of anticipating approaching danger or opportunity
the night watchman, who was usually vigilant, apparently dozed off and didn't notice the vandals sneaking in
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Recent Examples of vigilant
Commission Director Doug Schoenrock said the agency will continue to be vigilant in its efforts to find the bear responsible for the attack.
—
Bill Bowden, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2025
While authorities say the incident was not random, school officials are asking students to remain vigilant as university police work to identify and locate the suspect.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Local authorities continued to asked residents in the city and surrounding towns in Haiti’s southern regions to remain vigilant.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Preparations were well underway in the country Thursday as officials urged residents to take Melissa seriously and stay vigilant.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vigilant
Bill Bowden, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2025
While authorities say the incident was not random, school officials are asking students to remain vigilant as university police work to identify and locate the suspect.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Local authorities continued to asked residents in the city and surrounding towns in Haiti’s southern regions to remain vigilant.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Preparations were well underway in the country Thursday as officials urged residents to take Melissa seriously and stay vigilant.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vigilant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vigilant
Adjective
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The state is asking motorists to stay alert, drive without distractions and to obey reduced speed limits in the area.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
3 Nov. 2025
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Again, DeMelo was taken to the hospital, where she was later reported stable and alert, but this time the league called for a postponement of the game.—
Tamerra Griffin,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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But beneath the glamour and aesthetics, something deeper is keeping you awake past midnight.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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These parasomnias occur when the brain is partly awake and partly asleep.—
Brandon Peters,
Verywell Health,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Robin is about 30% autonomous, while a team of operators working remotely controls the rest under the watchful eyes of clinical staff.—
HALLIE GOLDEN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
26 Oct. 2025
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Palestinian schoolgirls saunter down a street in the Gaza Strip under the watchful eye of an Israeli patrol.—
Susan Sontag,
Vogue,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Those same records also showed that the only other purchases of BAM in the state of Colorado had been from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife agency and the National Parks Service — both of which maintained careful records of any use of the drug, per the indictment.—
Chris Spargo,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
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Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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This story retains a hold on people to a degree that most are likely scarcely aware of.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
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But lucid dreaming involves metacognition, which is a type of cognitive control in which someone becomes aware of their own thoughts.—
Hannah Yasharoff,
USA Today,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vigilant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vigilant. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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