as in alert
paying close attention usually for the purpose of anticipating approaching danger or opportunity
the toddler played under the watchful eye of her parents
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Recent Examples of watchful
In either case, the meteors literally bring their far-distant, otherwise-inaccessible parent bodies down to Earth, where watchful scientists can better study them.
—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
12 June 2026
Under the watchful gaze of head coach Andy Reid, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his teammates went through drills as the temperature hovered around a humid 90 degrees.
—
Emily Curiel,
Kansas City Star,
10 June 2026
As day turned to night on Hollywood Boulevard, the 36-year-old singer did indeed arrive at the premiere under the watchful eye of her security team.
—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
The epiphany for him around the word is entrenched in his experience in a place where Black people are doing everything, and without the watchful eye of White surveillance.
—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for watchful
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
12 June 2026
Under the watchful gaze of head coach Andy Reid, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his teammates went through drills as the temperature hovered around a humid 90 degrees.
—
Emily Curiel,
Kansas City Star,
10 June 2026
As day turned to night on Hollywood Boulevard, the 36-year-old singer did indeed arrive at the premiere under the watchful eye of her security team.
—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
The epiphany for him around the word is entrenched in his experience in a place where Black people are doing everything, and without the watchful eye of White surveillance.
—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for watchful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watchful
Adjective
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First responders found the woman conscious and alert after an umbrella stake pierced her shoulder.
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On 19th Street between The Paseo and Vine Street, officers found two women with gunshot wounds who were conscious and alert and one man who was unresponsive, Kansas City Police Department spokesman Capt.
Adjective
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Officials urge visitors to stay vigilant Authorities and experts alike said one of the largest factors in preventing an attack is whether law enforcement is notified about suspicious activity beforehand.
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The spokesperson noted that labor inspections of working conditions have increased and encouraged houses to remain vigilant and fully compliant with regulations.
Adjective
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Around midnight on a muggy June Monday, only one club was awake in Washington’s nightlife hub.
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The royal, who was seen repeatedly blinking before jolting awake, was attending the annual ANZAC Day service at London's Westminster Abbey, which is held to commemorate Commonwealth soldiers from Australia, New Zealand and Canada who served and died in wars and peacekeeping operations.
Adjective
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China walked a careful diplomatic line during the conflict.
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All that plus nightly turndown service and 24-hour room service reflect the careful attention paid to guests at Moon Palace The Grand—Cancun.
Cite this Entry
“Watchful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watchful. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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