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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of watchfulness
But the book’s ruminative watchfulness is unsuccessfully conjugated in this overly sedate play with music, which has the feel of a song cycle, though sung by the fine cast with gorgeous, lonely sorrow.
—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
19 June 2026
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
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
19 June 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watchfulness
Noun
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In summary, when facing the threat of lightning, preparedness and vigilance are your best allies.
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Research on stress and cognitive load has shown that ambiguity activates many of the same neural pathways involved in threat detection and vigilance.
Noun
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The screens influenced more than her alertness.
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This pattern activates the energizing side of the nervous system—increasing alertness, supporting oxygen uptake and creating a focused, ready state.
Noun
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The women, who also wore Mexico jerseys, were planning to attend the watch party.
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The devices were hidden in a pack of cigarettes, the informant’s watch, and a cellphone.
Noun
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At Dry Creek Ranch, however, the dogs produced enough alerts to prompt investigators to begin digging.
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Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio.
Noun
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In the past 15 years, and especially in the last five, our city has seen an influx of pizza restaurants and chefs who’ve brought a diversity of styles and an attentiveness to elevated ingredients and approaches.
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That attentiveness has allowed the family to build meaningful connections with both children, despite the challenges that come with their condition.
Cite this Entry
“Watchfulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watchfulness. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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