mindfulness
6 synonyms and 3 antonyms for mindfulness, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The practice of paying deliberate, non-judgemental attention to the present moment, including your breath, body and thoughts, often as a way of reducing stress.
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.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
The practice of paying deliberate, non-judgemental attention to the present moment, including your breath, body and thoughts, often as a way of reducing stress.
“Ten minutes of mindfulness each morning has helped her anxiety.”
Opposites
2. noun
The mental state of being fully aware of what is happening now rather than lost in worry about the past or future.
“He ate slowly, with unusual mindfulness.”
Opposites
How to use mindfulness
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Neutral and widespread in health, education and workplace contexts; occasionally used dismissively when it feels like corporate wellbeing jargon.
Etymology
From mindful plus -ness. The modern psychological sense translates Pali sati, 'awareness, recollection', from Buddhist teaching.
Full origin of mindfulness →