1
as in word
a word or phrase that must be spoken by a person in order to pass a guard
the watchword is changed every day
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in slogan
an attention-getting word or phrase used to publicize something (as a campaign or product)
their latest watchword turns up in every ad from that company
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of watchword
At the local level, caution has been the watchword.
—
John Aguilar, Denver Post, 24 Mar. 2026
Sprinkling in some back-end starters and calling it a day doesn’t seem like his MO after a year on the job, so perhaps patience is the watchword here after all.
—Susan Slusser, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Jan. 2026
Uncertainty is the watchword, especially with a major Supreme Court ruling on tariffs on the horizon.
—Brian Blank, The Conversation, 29 Dec. 2025
There is a feeling that the American public has about their own finances, about their own wallet, about the idea of affordability, which, of course, has become the watchword.
—ABC News, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for watchword
John Aguilar, Denver Post, 24 Mar. 2026
Sprinkling in some back-end starters and calling it a day doesn’t seem like his MO after a year on the job, so perhaps patience is the watchword here after all.
—Susan Slusser, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Jan. 2026
Uncertainty is the watchword, especially with a major Supreme Court ruling on tariffs on the horizon.
—Brian Blank, The Conversation, 29 Dec. 2025
There is a feeling that the American public has about their own finances, about their own wallet, about the idea of affordability, which, of course, has become the watchword.
—ABC News, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for watchword
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watchword
Noun
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Each puzzle has exactly one solution, so watch out for words or items that seem to belong to multiple categories!—
Mark Cooper,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
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One important tool in early natural-language-processing work was ranking the frequency of word sequences.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Noun
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On Thursday evening, the Interfaith Alliance projected protest slogans onto an exterior wall of the National Gallery of Art.—
Tiffany Stanley,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2026
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In practice, trustworthy AI isn't a slogan or a static property of a model.—
Sandeep Shilawat,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
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Tribute banners honoring those who lost their lives in service will be displayed and remain up through May 31.—
Heather McRea,
Oc Register,
20 May 2026
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Smoove’s banner Alternate Side Productions will also executive produce all projects made under the deal, with Rick Dorfman and Miles Grose also serving as EPs.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Watchword.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watchword. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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