Definition of vigilantnext

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective vigilant contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of vigilant are alert, watchful, and wide-awake. While all these words mean "being on the lookout especially for danger or opportunity," vigilant suggests intense, unremitting, wary watchfulness.

eternally vigilant in the safeguarding of democracy

Where would alert be a reasonable alternative to vigilant?

The words alert and vigilant can be used in similar contexts, but alert stresses readiness or promptness in meeting danger or in seizing opportunity.

alert traders anticipated the stock market's slide

When is watchful a more appropriate choice than vigilant?

The meanings of watchful and vigilant largely overlap; however, watchful is the least explicit term.

the watchful eye of the department supervisor

When is it sensible to use wide-awake instead of vigilant?

Although the words wide-awake and vigilant have much in common, 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 vigilant Morris’ message for the parents and students in attendance was to be vigilant, and to have important conversations with your child. Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Feb. 2026 How to avoid stimulus check scams As plans for any forthcoming checks remain unclear, stimulus scams have become so widespread that the IRS has cautioned the public to stay vigilant. Josh Kelly, Oklahoman, 3 Feb. 2026 With very little in the way of information about how Nancy Guthrie was taken, and what exactly happened, there’s not much for people to do but pray and be vigilant. Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 3 Feb. 2026 All these vigilant eyeballs left few shadows for ICE to operate in. Eric Roper, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for vigilant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vigilant
Adjective
  • That is why staying alert after breach reports matters.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Without it, even the tiredest body stays alert.
    Reem Raouda, CNBC, 8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Most people feel more awake within 10–15 minutes of drinking coffee, with the strongest boost around 30-45 minutes.
    Brandi Jones, Health, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Today, his brother Raúl Castro is 94, and Cuba’ s nominal president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, is an obscure bureaucrat who has a hard time keeping his audiences awake.
    Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • But that doesn’t mean there won’t be any adjustment in how its firms proceed there in the face of a more watchful US.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 31 Jan. 2026
  • For over two decades, efforts to lift the Oakland Police Department out from under the watchful eye of a federal judge have fallen short.
    Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • But turning this moment into lasting advantage will require careful planning, not just short-term opportunism.
    Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 7 Feb. 2026
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

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Cite this Entry

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

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