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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective alive contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of alive are awake, aware, cognizant, conscious, and sensible. While all these words mean "having knowledge of something," alive adds to sensible the implication of acute sensitivity to something.

alive to the thrill of danger

When could awake be used to replace alive?

In some situations, the words awake and alive are roughly equivalent. However, awake implies that one has become alive to something and is on the alert.

a country always awake to the threat of invasion

Where would aware be a reasonable alternative to alive?

While in some cases nearly identical to alive, aware implies vigilance in observing or alertness in drawing inferences from what one experiences.

aware of changes in climate

When would cognizant be a good substitute for alive?

While the synonyms cognizant and alive are close in meaning, cognizant implies having special or certain knowledge as from firsthand sources.

not fully cognizant of the facts

When can conscious be used instead of alive?

The words conscious and alive can be used in similar contexts, but conscious implies that one is focusing one's attention on something or is even preoccupied by it.

conscious that my heart was pounding

When is sensible a more appropriate choice than alive?

Although the words sensible and alive have much in common, 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 alive After an exhaustive effort to keep them alive, all four of the surviving pups have been adopted into new homes, the Northwest Florida Great Dane Rescue wrote March 12 on Facebook. Simone Jasper, Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2025 But doing vigorous exercise in the moment when you’re already feeling enraged can actually keep that feeling alive by prolonging the physiological arousal state of being angry, Dr. Martin explains. Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, 21 Mar. 2025 The victim -- a 25-year-old man from Troy -- is alive and in stable condition. Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 20 Mar. 2025 And that kept him alive for 53 years, in spite of a horrendous diet. Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for alive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alive
Adjective
  • Under Proposition 309, voters casting mail-in ballots could provide a driver's license or non-operating identification license number, the last four digits of a social security number, or a unique identifying number provided by the secretary of state for voter registration purposes.
    Arlyssa D. Becenti, The Arizona Republic, 27 Oct. 2022
  • The adjusted net income decreased by 8% y-o-y to $3.9 billion in the first nine months of 2022 due to higher expenses as a % of revenues and lower non-operating income.
    Trefis Team, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2023
Adjective
  • That’s the part that cautions … to be really aware that the rules aren’t clear anymore.
    Ray Sanchez, CNN, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Axios reported on Sunday that two senior White House officials acknowledged the administration was aware of and ignored the court order, with one suggesting the legal clash will end up in the U.S. Supreme Court.
    Mark Davis, Newsweek, 16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Expect a heavy-hitting lineup of live music, rotating DJs, and burlesque shows that will carry you well into the late night hours.
    Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Plus, Cardiff 101 Main Street will bring back the beloved Rooftop Libation Lounge at the Cardiff-by-the-Sea Lodge, promising an evening of delectable food, refreshing drinks, and live music under the stars, according to a news release.
    News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Half of the shark detections occurred during the day, a time when beaches are typically busy with human activity.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
  • Life in Wheeling, which has on two separate occasions been the capital of West Virginia, was once quite busy.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • This new list will recognize the leading venture capital firms headquartered in the U.S., based on their performance across key financial and operational metrics.
    TIME Staff, TIME, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Keeping classes affordable while covering rent, instructors and operational costs?
    Deepali Jamwal, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Second, properly prepared strands of DNA can reliably last thousands of years: the oldest extant DNA sample is two million years old and is still readable.
    Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2025
  • While xAI attributed the censorship to an internal error, with a former OpenAI employee bearing the blame, the incident points to the several extant question marks around AI transparency and ethical oversight.
    Anisha Sircar, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Your business should excite your customers, frustrate your competitors and animate and motivate your people.
    Jeffrey Russell, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
  • Photo : Paul Barnaby Robert Longo photographs animate the entry foyer.
    Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 22 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Naples, with a population north of two million, is a thriving and crowded city, while the twisting and often crowded drive to Sorrento can elevate your blood pressure.
    Tom Mullen, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Here in Salt Lake City, where the backcountry community is large and thriving, skiers post observations to Instagram as well and tag accounts dedicated to increasing the reach of our local knowledge.
    Ashley Thess, Outdoor Life, 14 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Alive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alive. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.

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