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
This patience is watchfulness, not idleness.
—
Francois Botha, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Francois Botha, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watchfulness
Noun
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Proving this will require experiments that directly test how the rhythm affects brain cleaning, vigilance, and survival.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Jan. 2026
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Italy’s own history, including the consequences of fascist racial laws and deportations, has shaped a national commitment to remembrance, education and vigilance.—
Brian Siegal,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Another idea is that the rhythm causes brief fluctuations in alertness, allowing sleeping animals to periodically check their surroundings and reduce the risk of being eaten.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Jan. 2026
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And wit is basically the alertness of the writer—being aware of where the reader might be, and then responding to that.—
Adrienne LaFrance,
The Atlantic,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Winter storm watches have already been issued across all of southern New England from Sunday morning through Monday evening.—
Terry Eliasen,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
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About 160 million people were under winter storm or cold weather watches or warnings -- and in many places both.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management issued an alert late Monday evening saying that the mountain lion was spotted in the Pacific Heights neighborhood near the intersection of Octavia Street and Pacific Avenue, just north of Lafayette Park.—
Jon Haworth,
ABC News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Because of the enhanced alert, the Office of Emergency Management has opened multiple warming centers throughout the city.—
Bill Kelly,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Luxury service on a yacht is defined by seamless attentiveness, privacy and hyper-personalized care.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes.com,
18 Jan. 2026
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Good care requires a level of presence and attentiveness that just can’t be scaled.—
Jen Zamzow,
The Conversation,
17 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Watchfulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watchfulness. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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