as in vigilance
the state of being constantly attentive and responsive to signs of opportunity, activity, or danger
it was only her motherly watchfulness that saved the boy from an accident
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Recent Examples of watchfulness
Hong Kong icon Tony Leung has channeled brooding urban energy for the masterpieces of Wong Kar-Wai, balancing the debonair ennui of Marcello Mastroianni with the quiet watchfulness of Montgomery Clift.
—
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 8 May 2026
In nine short, potent chapters, Beckerman lays out the essential traits of an effective dissident — loyalty, recklessness and watchfulness, among them — to illustrate how communities of resistance are built from the ground up.
—Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026
A lot of this involves watchfulness—noticing what the preferring mind (that is, the editing mind) as put in place, and accepting it, and building upon it.
—Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
With calm resolve, the United States and the European Union have each made decisions in recent days showing a firm watchfulness against big-power aggression.
—The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Dec. 2025
This patience is watchfulness, not idleness.
—Francois Botha, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 8 May 2026
In nine short, potent chapters, Beckerman lays out the essential traits of an effective dissident — loyalty, recklessness and watchfulness, among them — to illustrate how communities of resistance are built from the ground up.
—Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026
A lot of this involves watchfulness—noticing what the preferring mind (that is, the editing mind) as put in place, and accepting it, and building upon it.
—Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
With calm resolve, the United States and the European Union have each made decisions in recent days showing a firm watchfulness against big-power aggression.
—The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Dec. 2025
This patience is watchfulness, not idleness.
—Francois Botha, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watchfulness
Noun
-
As population growth drives animal-to-human disease transmission, outbreaks like the current one will become more frequent, requiring a sustained level of vigilance that cuts across sectors.—
Daniele Nyirandutiye,
semafor.com,
1 June 2026
-
In summary, when facing the threat of lightning, vigilance and preparedness are your best allies.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Activates the same alertness pathway as outdoor daylight.—
Allison Palmer
Updated June 4,
Sacbee.com,
4 June 2026
-
Adrenaline and noradrenaline, hormones which increase alertness and reaction speed, are also released, but there is a fine balance between readiness and unreadiness.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
While some political observers are brushing off speculation that a deluge of ballots could allow Steyer to crawl into the top two, conservative activists are keeping a close watch.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
5 June 2026
-
That announcement in turn coincided with the negative credit watch registered by S&P based on Paramount’s balance sheet valuation.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Today, when we are bombarded with news, alerts, and the constant intrusion of digital devices into every facet of our lives, that sentiment seems truer than ever.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
3 June 2026
-
Occasionally, breakfast proceedings would be interrupted by a cheeky monkey sitting up on the rafters, and staffers would be on high alert with their wild gesticulating, causing tittering among diners.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
In a statement, his attorney Anna Geigle with the Denver law firm Geigle Morales, said Allen is deeply grateful for the jury’s hard work and attentiveness.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
28 May 2026
-
Nolan’s attentiveness to his characters extends beyond the page.—
Eliana Dockterman,
Time,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Watchfulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watchfulness. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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