1
as in word
a word or phrase that must be spoken by a person in order to pass a guard
the watchword is changed every day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in slogan
an attention-getting word or phrase used to publicize something (as a campaign or product)
their latest watchword turns up in every ad from that company
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of watchword
Responding to the precariousness of our moment, museums have reified the problem with an unfortunate watchword: relevance.
—
Eric Crosby, Artforum, 1 May 2025
Despite four wins in Madrid, frustration appears to be a watchword for Świątek right now.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
Clearly, 3) temperamental caution remains the watchword.
—Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 22 Apr. 2025
Disobedience was, in certain respects, the watchword of all his work.
—Nikil Saval, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for watchword
Eric Crosby, Artforum, 1 May 2025
Despite four wins in Madrid, frustration appears to be a watchword for Świątek right now.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
Clearly, 3) temperamental caution remains the watchword.
—Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 22 Apr. 2025
Disobedience was, in certain respects, the watchword of all his work.
—Nikil Saval, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for watchword
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watchword
Noun
-
Before that, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet and Gilles Simon — the other three of the four Mousquetaires of French men’s tennis — have sent Monfils off into his last season with some kind words.—
James Hansen,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
-
One-word answers litter the path toward your desperate, fumbling attempt to get away.—
Jonny Thomson,
Big Think,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Department of Homeland Security used the Pokémon theme song, slogan, and font in a video promoting ICE raids.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Sep. 2025
-
There’s another even larger screen with stop-the-scroll slogans that engulfs an entire wall.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The alert lists the products' names, UPC numbers, sizes, sell-through dates, store banner names and states for the affected products.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Season 1 star Gyllenhaal executive produces under his Nine Stories banner.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Watchword.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watchword. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.
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