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 Garcia’s mother and grandfather were rushed to the hospital and haven’t been conscious long enough since to be told of Garcia’s fate. —Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 14 May 2026 At 13, Parsons made a conscious effort to read about brain development. —Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026 Its low fares pressured larger airlines to compete for budget-conscious travelers. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 May 2026 Allegiant and Sun Country have focused on cost-conscious travelers, connecting smaller cities to vacation destinations. —Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 13 May 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
  • He had been engaged in a months-long chaste affair with Jane Seymour that Anne was aware of and angry about.
    — Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
  • Toulouse, aware of the level of interest, sanctioned a move in the belief that Canvot would become an outstanding talent.
    — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Definition of aware
Adjective
  • Design features in the rooms The rooms offer a deliberate exhale after the exuberance of the communal spaces.
    — Bridget Mills-Powell, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 May 2026
  • Starmer's former deputy Angela Rayner said on Thursday that she had been cleared of deliberate wrongdoing over her tax affairs, boosting her prospects for another potential leadership bid.
    — Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 15 May 2026
Definition of deliberate
Adjective
  • Housing First programs provide immediate, low-barrier housing with voluntary services.
    — Shianne LeClaire, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2026
  • In the letter to Yale, Dhillon alleged the New Haven, Connecticut, school was violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibiting discrimination and said the DOJ is seeking to enter into a voluntary resolution agreement with the university.
    — Dave Collins, Fortune, 16 May 2026
Definition of voluntary
Adjective
  • The variety of makers, dealers, and products on-hand was very much intentional.
    — Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 13 May 2026
  • Despite the criticism, DNC national finance co-chair Chris Lowe said the cash disparity is the result of an intentional strategy Martin outlined when running for chair and has executed since taking over the building.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 May 2026
Definition of intentional
Adjective
  • Crews will then guide the liner by hand to its intended location.
    — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 14 May 2026
  • The policy had its intended effect on ML.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 May 2026
Definition of intended
Adjective
  • Sorokin had a brilliant season that nearly willed the Islanders into the playoffs.
    — Jesse Granger, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Power scored an Ivy League tournament-record 44 points and hit a clutch, season-saving three-pointer with 2 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, and willed Pennsylvania to an 88-84 win in the conference title game on Sunday.
    — Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 15 Mar. 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 20 May. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on conscious

Nglish: Translation of conscious for Spanish Speakers

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