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
Be vigilant against squash bugs and squash vine borers to get the most out of your plants.
—
Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2026
What the Dead Know centers on highly intelligent, hyper-vigilant death Investigator Ava Ledger (Schilling) who is really good with dead bodies.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2026
Owners should remain vigilant about fireplace maintenance.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2026
Stay vigilant by monitoring the sky for ominous signs and listening for the telltale sound of thunder.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vigilant
Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2026
What the Dead Know centers on highly intelligent, hyper-vigilant death Investigator Ava Ledger (Schilling) who is really good with dead bodies.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2026
Owners should remain vigilant about fireplace maintenance.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2026
Stay vigilant by monitoring the sky for ominous signs and listening for the telltale sound of thunder.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vigilant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vigilant
Adjective
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These vitamins help the body convert food into energy, and some people feel more alert when taking them earlier in the day.—
Lindsey DeSoto,
Health,
23 Feb. 2026
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Times investigations uncovered the alert failure in January of last year, and later found that almost no fire trucks were in that side of the community as the inferno raged through.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Since this process uses local anaesthesia, patients will remain awake but comfortable, maintaining their ability to talk to the team or simply rest.—
Ethan Stone,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
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Living rooms spend their days catching strong daylight, so mid-weight panels in softer tones tend to do well there, taming glare while keeping the space bright enough to feel awake and social.—
Maria Williams,
Ascend Agency,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The service Staff are kind but watchful, and always at the ready.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
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Officials are also asking everyone to keep a watchful eye out for sick or dead birds.—
Joe Brandt,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Stirring frequently, cook until garlic is a deep golden brown, being careful not to burn it, about 5 minutes.—
C.W. Cameron,
AJC.com,
21 Feb. 2026
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Once the heavy portion is removed, finish with a clean cut where the branch meets the trunk, being careful not to injure the branch collar.—
Rae Ford,
Martha Stewart,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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As the recipient of Gentle Readers’ mail, Miss Manners is all too aware of the deluge of rudeness in the modern world.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
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Eagan city staff were not aware of any other active data center moratoria in the Twin Cities area; this move is believed to be the first.—
Elliot Mann,
Twin Cities,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vigilant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vigilant. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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