watchful

adjective

ˈwäch-fəl How to pronounce watchful (audio)
Definition of watchfulnext
as in alert
paying close attention usually for the purpose of anticipating approaching danger or opportunity the toddler played under the watchful eye of her parents

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective watchful contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of watchful are alert, vigilant, and wide-awake. While all these words mean "being on the lookout especially for danger or opportunity," watchful is the least explicit term.

the watchful eye of the department supervisor

When could alert be used to replace watchful?

Although the words alert and watchful have much in common, alert stresses readiness or promptness in meeting danger or in seizing opportunity.

alert traders anticipated the stock market's slide

Where would vigilant be a reasonable alternative to watchful?

The meanings of vigilant and watchful largely overlap; however, vigilant suggests intense, unremitting, wary watchfulness.

eternally vigilant in the safeguarding of democracy

When is wide-awake a more appropriate choice than watchful?

The words wide-awake and watchful are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, wide-awake applies to watchfulness for opportunities and developments more often than dangers.

wide-awake companies latched onto the new technology

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 watchful The spotlight surrounding Mac’s love life intensified, as his relationship piqued the interest of TMZ and other tabloids, along with the watchful eyes of millions of Arianators. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026 Arlo Security Camera Deal Keep a watchful eye on what matters most with the Arlo Essential Security Camera 1080p HD (3rd Gen). — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026 Keeping a watchful eye over the shoot from a balcony above the soundstage floor are Sean Thomason and Conor Lastowka, RiffTrax’s longtime senior writers and producers. — Joe Otterson, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026 While CIOs and CTOs have been keeping a watchful eye on rogue AI agents from OpenAI, Anthropic, and other major AI labs, within enterprises, the bet on these autonomous systems is only getting bigger. — John Kell, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for watchful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watchful
  1. alert
  2. vigilant
  3. awake
  4. careful
Adjective
  • Rivera urged coastal residents to remain alert to changes in sea level, identify routes to higher ground and report unusual conditions to emergency authorities.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Threats to the Carolinas The private AccuWeather service urged Carolinians to remain alert to possible flash flooding, mudslides and tornadoes Sunday into Sunday night.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of alert
Adjective
  • At the first all-crew meeting, Kerry warns everyone to stay vigilant.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Both Rothrock and Raybould urged companies to be vigilant when hiring remote workers and to rely on tools like E-Verify, as well as require multiple forms of identification for new hires.
    — Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of vigilant
Adjective
  • The idea, to hear Chatten tell it, was to shake their listeners awake with a catastrophic warning.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026
  • That could mean recognizing the same conflict happening repeatedly with a co-worker, lying awake each night with racing thoughts, or turning to food or cigarettes during periods of stress, according to Resnick.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of awake
Adjective
  • Full-scale, 10-foot Hulk standins helped actors and camera crews judge his dimensions on set, and even his pants required careful attention.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Turning a field into a recognizable maze requires specialized planning and careful execution.
    — Alexa Liacko, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of careful

Browse Nearby Words

watch (for)
watchful
watchfulness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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