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
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
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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This constant vigilance requires close observation through a network of ground- and space-based surveillance sensors.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
23 Apr. 2026
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Tan said banks are now operating in an environment where cyber risks are constant and evolving, requiring a mindset of perpetual vigilance.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
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More evidence is needed to determine if smelling lemon water can significantly increase energy and alertness.—
Carrie Madormo,
Verywell Health,
17 Apr. 2026
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Dogs bred for alertness or reactivity may be more attuned to sound, though this isn’t a hard-and-fast rule.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
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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.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2026
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There is a moderate risk of rip currents along the Atlantic beaches, but no advisories or alerts for boaters.—
Lissette Gonzalez,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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There’s a gentleness, patience, care, and concentration in meaningful work, an attentiveness close to love, that embodies the best in culture.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Apr. 2026
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Once traversed by Genghis Khan, this is a focal point of Scythian-Turkic culture, whose arid slopes somehow sustain nomadic life that demands constant attentiveness to the environment.—
Rob Crossan,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Watchfulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watchfulness. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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