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 As an ambassador for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, Howard is conscious of what his appearance at The Open could mean to younger people living with the condition and to their families. — Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 4 July 2026 That same day, the North Node enters Aquarius, kicking off a socially conscious shift toward collaboration, progress, innovation and a future that requires us to think beyond our individual needs and desires. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026 Outside Hollywood, Glover has become equally known for being involved in his community, co-founding a production company, Louverture Films, focused on supporting socially conscious stories from underserved communities. — Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026 The Department of Justice accuses Yale of illegally favoring Black and Hispanic applicants, citing its interpretation of the 2023 Supreme Court ban on race-conscious admissions. — Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 2 July 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
  • Buckingham Palace has, however, been aware of that judgment since last Thursday.
    — Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026
  • City officials were made aware of the potential dangers the fireworks were posing for the departing and arriving flights.
    — Diego Mendoza, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Definition of aware
Adjective
  • The design is open and clean, with a deliberate choice to draw the surrounding scenery deep into the interior of the home.
    — Bridget Borgobello July 03, New Atlas, 4 July 2026
  • Prosecutors call Hearn’s actions a deliberate, violent act causing more than $1,000 in damage, and his attorneys denounce the case as an alarming misuse of government power.
    — Lindsay Whitehurst, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of deliberate
Adjective
  • The reason is that the administration has shrunk the requirements for reports of immunization from states, changing the reports from mandated to voluntary.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • Without control of committee gavels — and the subpoena power that comes with them — legislative inquiries from the Hill minority generally rely on the voluntary compliance from their targets to produce documents or testimony.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of voluntary
Adjective
  • Tumpa, her nephew, and Oro Recovery were also all accused of intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and invasion of privacy by public disclosure of private facts.
    — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
  • Under church law, the consecrations constitute a schismatic act, or an intentional rupture of the unity of the Catholic Church, and incur automatic excommunication for the four bishops and the bishop administering the consecration.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 June 2026
Definition of intentional
Adjective
  • If the device experience fails, the software running on it rarely delivers its intended value.
    — Damini Sood, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • The plaintiffs have also accused Bayer of negligence and misrepresentation of Roundup's safety in its marketing, and have alleged that the product was defective for its intended purpose.
    — Diana Novak Jones, USA Today, 25 June 2026
Definition of intended
Adjective
  • Some of Thomas’s critique appeared to be aimed at weak-willed conservatives, including his fellow-Justices, for being, as Thomas perceives it, too spineless to stand up for the ideals enshrined in the Declaration.
    — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 21 May 2026
  • Meanwhile, gracious but iron-willed family matriarch Claudine works tirelessly behind the scenes to hush up family scandals.
    — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 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 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on conscious

Nglish: Translation of conscious for Spanish Speakers

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