Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective watchful contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of watchful are alert, vigilant, and wide-awake. While all these words mean "being on the lookout especially for danger or opportunity," watchful is the least explicit term.

the watchful eye of the department supervisor

When could alert be used to replace watchful?

Although the words alert and watchful have much in common, alert stresses readiness or promptness in meeting danger or in seizing opportunity.

alert traders anticipated the stock market's slide

Where would vigilant be a reasonable alternative to watchful?

The meanings of vigilant and watchful largely overlap; however, vigilant suggests intense, unremitting, wary watchfulness.

eternally vigilant in the safeguarding of democracy

When is wide-awake a more appropriate choice than watchful?

The words wide-awake and watchful are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, wide-awake applies to watchfulness for opportunities and developments more often than dangers.

wide-awake companies latched onto the new technology

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 watchful Mitch and Kazu spend their early childhood under the watchful eye of Mama, who adopts them out of an orphanage. Katie Kitamura, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025 National Hurricane Center eyeing possible storm Meanwhile, the National Hurricane Center was keeping a watchful eye on the Gulf for possible tropical development this week. John Bacon, USA Today, 16 July 2025 Techniques passed down through generations, refined through repetition and perfected under the watchful eye of a woman who demanded excellence. Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025 In it, rooms filled with monitors show simulated airplanes taxiing on runways and taking off – all under the watchful eyes of students learning to keep the flying public safe. Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 11 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for watchful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watchful
Adjective
  • The bear was also alert when released and quickly began feeding on a patch of berries nearby.
    Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • All users, not just those of the Google platform, need to be alert to the risk.
    Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The most effective approaches for preventing and detecting spoofs and hacks entail always being vigilant.
    Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
  • Such steps at this stage illustrate how Florida education unions have remained vigilant of the requirements set by a state law in 2023, including recertification.
    Lauren Brensel, Sun Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Our brains interpret light as a signal to stay awake and darkness as a cue to fall asleep.3 Blue light, the type emitted by phones, sends an especially strong signal to the brain.
    Julia Ries, Health, 12 Aug. 2025
  • But just as these two were unable to stay awake through their first date, their adult bodies aren’t cut out for this trip down memory lane, either.
    Genevieve Koski, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Navigating this revolution responsibly requires careful policy, support for adaptation and a focus on using technology to benefit people.
    Vaibhav Dani, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 17 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Watchful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watchful. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on watchful

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