1
as in carefulness
a close attentiveness to avoiding danger
drove through the fog with extra alertness, as the road signs repeatedly warned of deer and moose crossings
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in watchfulness
the state of being constantly attentive and responsive to signs of opportunity, activity, or danger
we observed the U.S. border patrol's intensified alertness for drug smugglers at the border stations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of alertness
The company positions the technology as a support tool for resilience and readiness, especially in roles that demand sustained alertness.
—
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Jan. 2026
Green tea contains caffeine, which can promote wakefulness and alertness.
—Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 7 Jan. 2026
Coffee delivers a faster, stronger energy boost, while green tea offers calmer, more sustained alertness.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 4 Jan. 2026
Instead, the drugs appear to activate networks involved in alertness and the anticipation of pleasure, scientists report in the journal Cell.
—Jon Hamilton, NPR, 27 Dec. 2025
That’s because your brain depends on amino acids to make neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, the chemical messengers that regulate mood, motivation, and alertness.
—Lauryn Higgins, Time, 18 Dec. 2025
Certain scents, like rosemary, peppermint, or eucalyptus, have been shown to improve alertness and concentration, while others, like citrus, vanilla, or lavender, are known to reduce stress and elevate mood.
—Raquel Reichard, Refinery29, 16 Dec. 2025
Sleep is important for establishing circadian rhythms, which optimize alertness during the day and rest at night.
—Jenalee Doom, The Conversation, 12 Dec. 2025
The human nervous system isn’t designed for permanent alertness, and yet that is precisely what many workplaces now demand.
—Jon Rosemberg, Fortune, 9 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alertness
Noun
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Just as essential a consideration as carefulness for committee members, though, is speed.—
Noun
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This patience is watchfulness, not idleness.—
Noun
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Take extra caution when on the road or avoid driving if possible.—
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Mariners traversing the bar are urged to exercise extreme caution or stay in port until the threat subsides.—
Noun
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Such vigilance has mostly been absent from the current Congress.—
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Meanwhile money vigilance means being cautious and concerned about your financial well-being.—
Noun
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But the care and keeping of me?—
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Any infants experiencing symptoms should have their care provider contacted immediately.—
Noun
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If there is a potential for temperatures to fall into these thresholds, a freeze watch may be issued a few days ahead of time.—
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Sotheby’s estimated nearly a third of its watch sales in 2023 went to buyers age 30 and under, giving them priceless social currency.—
Noun
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Today, similar prudence animates concerns about NATO and broader trans-Atlantic ties in an era when Europe has undergone profound transformations through mass migration, supranational governance, demographic decline, and shifting cultural priorities.—
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The organizations also claim that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s prudence requirement doesn’t allow NIPSCO to recover costs expended pursuant to an unlawful directive, according to the letter.—
Noun
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An analysis by the Police Department from 2015 found that about 70% of ShotSpotter alerts in the coverage area were not accompanied by a 911 call, meaning officers were often responding to gunfire incidents that residents did not report, Becchina said.—
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The Los Angeles Police Department issued several alerts of street closures due to the march.—
Cite this Entry
“Alertness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alertness. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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