vigils

plural of vigil
as in watches
an act or period of watching for signs of activity, danger, or opportunity kept vigil at their ailing son's bedside the entire time he was in the hospital

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 vigils The community rallied with vigils and blood drives, prayers and performances. Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026 Hundreds of people stood in line for hours to give blood, and people held candles and hugged strangers at vigils. Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 June 2026 The pontiff has been packing out stadiums and plazas for prayer vigils and Masses, while the Puerto Rican rapper has been holding his party-style mega-concerts in front of tens of thousands. Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 10 June 2026 The vigils started in August, organized by Noelle Damico, a United Church of Christ minister, to bear witness and bring attention to the inhumane conditions at the facility. Eric Schlosser, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026 Her remains were found in a drainage ditch Saturday, a week after her disappearance, as vigils in her home province erupted into clashes with police. Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026 Dozens of civil society groups disbanded, including the one that organized the vigils. ABC News, 3 June 2026 The shooting sparked protests and vigils outside the store in the days following Cyrus’ death. Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026 Video of the encounter quickly garnered international news coverage and circulated on social media, resulting in countless vigils and memes. Greta Cross, USA Today, 28 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vigils
Noun
  • And as Hood watches, Chayton snaps Siobhan’s neck … just as sirens appear in the background, causing all of the Redbones to flee.
    EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026
  • An Ecosystem Of Excellence The partnership extends well beyond the watches themselves.
    Richard Mille Contributor, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • Wolfe is known for her quirky vacation rentals, which include the Big Idaho Potato near Boise; a Hobbit home in Chelan, Washington; a cocoon in Oregon; a tropical treehouse in Hawaii; and several Idaho fire lookouts.
    Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 24 June 2026
  • There are stunning views of the city from the various lookouts atop Mount Royal.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Vigils.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vigils. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.

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