conscious

adjective

ˈkän(t)-shəs How to pronounce conscious (audio)
Definition of consciousnext
1
as in aware
having specified facts or feelings actively impressed on the mind conscious of the fact that my hands were sweating the whole time that I was making my presentation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deliberate
made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing a conscious effort to instill discord in the family

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective conscious contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of conscious are alive, awake, aware, cognizant, and sensible. While all these words mean "having knowledge of something," conscious implies that one is focusing one's attention on something or is even preoccupied by it.

conscious that my heart was pounding

How are the words alive and sensible related as synonyms of conscious?

Alive adds to sensible the implication of acute sensitivity to something.

alive to the thrill of danger

In what contexts can awake take the place of conscious?

While in some cases nearly identical to conscious, awake implies that one has become alive to something and is on the alert.

a country always awake to the threat of invasion

When might aware be a better fit than conscious?

In some situations, the words aware and conscious are roughly equivalent. However, aware implies vigilance in observing or alertness in drawing inferences from what one experiences.

aware of changes in climate

When can cognizant be used instead of conscious?

The synonyms cognizant and conscious are sometimes interchangeable, but cognizant implies having special or certain knowledge as from firsthand sources.

not fully cognizant of the facts

When is sensible a more appropriate choice than conscious?

The words sensible and conscious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sensible implies direct or intuitive perceiving especially of intangibles or of emotional states or qualities.

sensible of a teacher's influence

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 conscious Pope Leo, who is fully conscious and already walking around, remains contactable and will likely be able to liaise with church officials, should any pertinent issues arise during his hospital stay. — Tiago Ventura, Time, 14 Oct. 2026 When Pike remained conscious after the initial dose, authorities administered a second dose per state protocol. — Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026 This analogy is increasingly relevant to AI-conscious organizational leadership. — Alexandra J. Zanela, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026 The singer himself has become, with conscious effort, a wonderful prototype of positivity, his dark days of addiction replaced by an overwhelming aura of humanity and creativity. — Katherine Turman, SPIN, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for conscious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conscious
  1. aware
  2. deliberate
  3. voluntary
  4. intentional
  5. intended
  6. willed
Adjective
  • According to Oracle's customer communications, the company became aware of the incident around February 20, 2025.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • While Netanyahu has sought to project confidence, Trump is well aware of the prime minister’s difficult political position.
    — Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of aware
Adjective
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio also rejected Zelenskyy's claims that the disruptions to the system were deliberate.
    — Kristin Wright, NPR, 18 Oct. 2026
  • In the lobby, the beams and columns join with such deliberate overelaborations as to mock the simplicity of the overall building.
    — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of deliberate
Adjective
  • Yes, indeed, although voluntary export restraints raise a series of technical issues.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The voluntary settlement agreement does not require a monetary payment, and the university does not admit to any wrongdoing or liability.
    — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of voluntary
Adjective
  • Supreme Court justices will now consider whether a group claiming to be targeted by a race-neutral policy must show it was disproportionately harmed to prove intentional discrimination.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Election experts have said many instances of noncitizens registering to vote are a result of administrative error or confusion on the part of the immigrant — not intentional criminality.
    — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of intentional
Adjective
  • However, these applications represent intended capabilities, not confirmed operational deployments.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The intended effect is to subtly improve definition in the jaw, cheekbones, and neck as laxity begins to set in.
    — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of intended
Adjective
  • Originally unveiled at the 1999 Tokyo Motor Show and put into production in 2005, the Bugatti Veyron was a moonshot project essentially willed into existence by Ferdinand Piëch.
    — Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Anyone who has a negative reaction to this is a weak-willed loser who has ZERO idea how bad Texan has become and is more than likely complicit in selling out our state.
    — Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of willed

Browse Nearby Words

conscionable
conscious
consciously
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Cite this Entry

“Conscious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conscious. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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