Definition of surveillancenext
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as in watch
an act or period of watching for signs of activity, danger, or opportunity government surveillance of suspected terrorists

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of surveillance Officials said the multi-agency probe into Valente's motivations involved scouring more than 11,000 surveillance files, analyzing over 2,100 audio and video files from his personal devices, and conducting upward of 260 interviews. Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026 Cops said witnesses and surveillance video helped identify the shooter. Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026 Across Charlotte, a growing number of people are adding their private surveillance cameras to a police network. Ryan Oehrli april 29, Charlotte Observer, 29 Apr. 2026 The film, which won the international feature Oscar, centers around the covert audio surveillance of East Berlin residents by a senior operative for East Germany’s secret police, aka the Stasi. Ellise Shafer, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for surveillance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surveillance
Noun
  • Robinson was among 425 volunteers spreading out from four different locations on Saturday throughout Waukegan, removing trash from the lakefront, the city’s downtown and its neighborhoods, ending eight days of active environmental stewardship during the city’s fifth-annual Earth Week cleanup.
    Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Public lands are managed for restoration, habitat conservation, recreation and long-term stewardship — outcomes that often require full ownership.
    Susan Carr, Sun Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The last month has seen extensive rain, tornado watches, then warnings and flooding as the Des Plaines and Fox rivers were filled beyond capacity, Kumar said.
    Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
  • From weeknight dinners to Saturday afternoon football watch parties, these slow-cooker brisket sandwiches that only require 10 minutes of hands-on time are the tastiest solution.
    Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The group says Ensign misled courts, disobeyed court orders and failed to intervene when lawyers under his supervision engaged in misconduct.
    Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 25 Apr. 2026
  • His fingerprints are all over the modern sport — from the development and implementation of the Next Gen car, to the supervision of going to new tracks (and revitalizing old ones) and more.
    Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Deputies put out a be-on-the-lookout for a dark-colored car.
    Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
  • While the dissolution of the Main Street RSNs means that some 20 NBA and NHL teams are now on the lookout for new in-market distribution platforms, Playfly continues to enjoy an unrivaled position of influence within local sports.
    Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Without any workplace oversight, the baristas did the obvious, padding their breaks by ten, fifteen, twenty minutes.
    Saïd Sayrafiezadeh, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026
  • With that growth, gaps in oversight have been exploited by a small number of bad actors delivering substandard, and in many cases no, care.
    Tom Koutsoumpas, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • John McCann, the incumbent mayor of Chula Vista who owns a real estate and property management company, is seeking another term in office, running on a record of economic development, public safety and neighborhood investment.
    Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
  • County officials said the move was intended to create a more centralized and accountable system, following audits that raised concerns about LAHSA’s financial management.
    Teresa Liu, Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Fiber-optic drones are not piloted via, for example, GPS signals or radio control.
    Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Why mosquito control matters beyond the bites For most gardeners, mosquitoes are about comfort — or the lack of it.
    Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • At the same time, Brandon Johnson’s administration prioritizes reducing the risk of future costs through investments in violence prevention, community engagement, and modernized policing practices.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
  • The advisory, shared in June 2017, came in light of disproportionate policing of Black residents in the state.
    Sofi Zeman April 25, Kansas City Star, 25 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Surveillance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surveillance. Accessed 3 May. 2026.

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