conscious
10 synonyms and 3 antonyms for conscious, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Awake and mentally alert, as opposed to unconscious or asleep.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use conscious
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin "conscius," meaning "aware, aware of guilt," from "con-" ("together") and "scire" ("to know").
Full origin of conscious →Frequently asked questions
What does “conscious” mean?
The word “conscious” means awake and mentally alert, as opposed to unconscious or asleep. In plain terms, awake and aware, or deliberately and knowingly doing something.
How do you pronounce “conscious”?
“Conscious” is pronounced KON-shuhs (/ˈkɑn.ʃəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “conscious” in a sentence?
Here is “conscious” used in a sentence: “The patient was conscious and talking within minutes of the accident.”
What is another word for “conscious”?
Words with a similar meaning to “conscious” include intentional deliberate, voluntary, wilful and intentional.
What is the opposite of “conscious”?
The opposite of “conscious” — its antonyms — are asleep, unaware and unconscious.
What part of speech is “conscious”?
“Conscious” is an adjective.
Where does the word “conscious” come from?
The word “conscious” comes from Latin. From Latin "conscius," meaning "aware, aware of guilt," from "con-" ("together") and "scire" ("to know").
Is “conscious” a common word?
“Conscious” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between conscious and conscience?
Conscious is an adjective meaning awake and mentally alert, or aware of something. Conscience is a noun meaning the inner sense of right and wrong that guides behaviour; the two words are unrelated in meaning despite their similar spelling.
What is the difference between conscious and aware?
Conscious can mean simply being awake and alert, as opposed to unconscious or asleep, as well as being aware of something. Aware refers only to having knowledge or perception of something, so a patient can be conscious (awake) without being aware of every detail around them.
Is it spelled conscious or concious?
The correct spelling is conscious, with the letters s-c-i-o-u-s at the end. "Concious" is a common misspelling that omits the first s.
What preposition is used with conscious?
In the sense of being aware, conscious is normally followed by "of," as in "conscious of the risks" or "conscious of being watched." The related form self-conscious is often followed by "about," as in "self-conscious about her accent."