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 Industry analysts say smaller footprints and simpler menus can help operators manage higher labor and seafood costs while appealing to younger, value-conscious diners. —Sydney Lake, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026 Adaptive dual-attention games use implicit learning, which is an automatic acquisition of knowledge or skills without conscious awareness of what is being learned. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026 After the Organic Foods Production Act was finally implemented in 2002, what had been a lifestyle confined mostly to left-leaning, health-conscious West Coast families became more mainstream. —Annie Levin, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026 Like rival PepsiCo, Coke has seen demand for its drinks fall as budget-conscious shoppers try to save more on their grocery bills and dine out less frequently. —Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 10 Feb. 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
  • Nexus One now supports job-aware observability, allowing operators to correlate network behavior directly with GPU workloads.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Burrell superintendent Shannon Wagner told KDKA-TV in a statement that the district was made aware of the arrest and allegations and that Fantuzzo has been relieved of his coaching duties until the outcome of the Montgomery County proceedings.
    — Mike Darnay, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of aware
Adjective
  • That deliberate gratitude also trained them to notice all the positive things the other person was doing.
    — Jelena Kecmanovic, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Nearly all of the 62-second clip appears to be from a conservative video alleging deliberate tampering with voting machines in battleground states as 2020 votes were tallied.
    — Bill Barrow, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of deliberate
Adjective
  • Reservists are generally deployed for tasks in the Netherlands, but have occasionally also been sent overseas on a voluntary basis, said ministry spokesperson Meijer.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Under voluntary rules, lawn watering is limited to twice a week on a rotating schedule.
    — Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of voluntary
Adjective
  • This is where intentional framing matters.
    — Ashley Herd, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
  • It’s not explicitly confirmed, which is intentional.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of intentional
Adjective
  • Miller has noticed that many diners are following the intended model, stopping at several locations in one night.
    — Eva Remijan-Toba, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
  • In January, when Elliott married Blake Murray, their officiant was the intended father.
    — Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of intended
Adjective
  • Toolson made his first five shots in the second half and almost willed TCU to a comeback by himself.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Jan. 2026
  • It cannot be wished, willed or app-ified into existence.
    — Chase Wilson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Dec. 2025
Definition of willed

Browse Nearby Words

conscionable
conscious
consciously
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Conscious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conscious. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on conscious

Nglish: Translation of conscious for Spanish Speakers

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