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 Williams said staff will be extra watchful as students process Wilson’s death. Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2025 The 17-year-old joins a steady stream of fighters on mats spattered with sweat, blood and occasional tears to spar under the watchful eye of Mansouri, a former professional MMA fighter who founded the space in 2020. Will Carless, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025 The church that three days before was filled with excited students and watchful teachers at the start of a new school year is now a crime scene. Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2025 Across the street from the house, neighbor Anthony Striplin has kept a watchful eye on what goes on in his neighborhood, which sits a few blocks from the former Greenside housing project that was demolished in 2013. Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for watchful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watchful
Adjective
  • Knowing these risk factors can encourage individuals to be more alert about suicide.
    Eric Wood, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Both Stewart and Kalitta were alert and exited their cars under their own power.
    Lydia Mee, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Rest assured, such anomalies occur from time to time, and all of us - especially the young - should be vigilant to anticipate - and prevent - them.
    Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Stay informed, stay vigilant, and prioritize your well-being.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The watch also includes Sleep Score, which breaks down sleep stages such as core, deep and awake to give users a clearer picture of rest quality.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Nightmares about what happened — both on the street and in the hospital — keep him awake.
    Cara Anthony, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • But Eliasen is careful not to let scope creep derail initial implementations.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Watchful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watchful. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on watchful

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