COGNIZANT Synonyms: 38 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'cognizant' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of cognizant are alive , awake , aware , conscious , and sensible . While all these words mean "having knowledge of something," cognizant implies having special or certain knowledge as from firsthand sources. // not fully cognizant of the facts

Q: How do 'alive' and 'sensible' relate to one another, in the sense of 'cognizant'?

Alive adds to sensible the implication of acute sensitivity to something. // alive to the thrill of danger

Q: When would 'awake' be a good substitute for 'cognizant'?

The words awake and cognizant are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, awake implies that one has become alive to something and is on the alert. // a country always awake to the threat of invasion

Q: In what contexts can 'aware' take the place of 'cognizant'?

The meanings of aware and cognizant largely overlap; however, aware implies vigilance in observing or alertness in drawing inferences from what one experiences. // aware of changes in climate

Q: When might 'conscious' be a better fit than 'cognizant'?

Although the words conscious and cognizant have much in common, conscious implies that one is focusing one's attention on something or is even preoccupied by it. // conscious that my heart was pounding

Q: When can 'sensible' be used instead of 'cognizant'?

While in some cases nearly identical to cognizant , sensible implies direct or intuitive perceiving especially of intangibles or of emotional states or qualities. // sensible of a teacher's influence

cognizant

adjective

ˈkäg-nə-zənt

Definition of cognizant next

as in aware

having specified facts or feelings actively impressed on the mind not fully cognizant of the details of the trade agreement

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How does the adjective cognizant contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of cognizant are alive, awake, aware, conscious, and sensible. While all these words mean "having knowledge of something," cognizant implies having special or certain knowledge as from firsthand sources.

not fully cognizant of the facts

How do alive and sensible relate to one another, in the sense of cognizant?

Alive adds to sensible the implication of acute sensitivity to something.

alive to the thrill of danger

When would awake be a good substitute for cognizant?

The words awake and cognizant are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, awake implies that one has become alive to something and is on the alert.

a country always awake to the threat of invasion

In what contexts can aware take the place of cognizant?

The meanings of aware and cognizant largely overlap; however, aware implies vigilance in observing or alertness in drawing inferences from what one experiences.

aware of changes in climate

When might conscious be a better fit than cognizant?

Although the words conscious and cognizant have much in common, conscious implies that one is focusing one's attention on something or is even preoccupied by it.

conscious that my heart was pounding

When can sensible be used instead of cognizant?

While in some cases nearly identical to cognizant, 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 cognizant What compelled you to want to be more cognizant of styling? —

Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2025 Is Oliver cognizant of those boundaries? —

Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 27 Sep. 2025 The Padres are also ultra-cognizant of the fact that Cease has essentially taken the ball every fifth or sixth day since becoming a full-time big-leaguer in 2021. —

Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2025 Seniors should also be cognizant of offers that seem too good to be true as well as any pressure to act urgently. —

Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cognizant

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cognizant

aware

Adjective

This story retains a hold on people to a degree that most are likely scarcely aware of.

— Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
But lucid dreaming involves metacognition, which is a type of cognitive control in which someone becomes aware of their own thoughts.

— Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025

Definition of aware

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cognizance

cognizant

cognize

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“Cognizant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cognizant. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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Last Updated: 29 Oct 2025 - Updated example sentences

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