hypervigilant

American  

[hahy-per-vij-uh-luhnt] / ˌhaɪ pərˈvɪdʒ ə lənt /

adjective

1. especially wary or alert.

   All high school and college coaches need to be hypervigilant about suspected brain injuries.

2. overly sensitive and reactive to stimuli.

   PTSD sufferers may experience nightmares and heightened anxiety, and they may be hypervigilant and develop an increased startle response.

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Other Word Forms

• hypervigilantness
  noun
• hypervigilantly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of hypervigilant

hyper- ( def. ) + vigilant ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hypervigilant

"Because they're constantly frightened of the event happening again, they stay in red alert mode so they're hypervigilant, always looking out for danger, always looking over their shoulder, even when danger isn't there."

From BBC ● May 13, 2026

“Cherry is effervescent. It’s always there waiting to come out. She’s so reactive. And I’m hypervigilant for the warning signs before I react. This was like a rage room.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2025

The list of activities that could get millions of Americans arrested by a hypervigilant enforcer of the statute is mind-blowing.

From Slate ● Feb. 21, 2024

A large Swedish study has uncovered a paradox about people diagnosed with an excessive fear of serious illness: They tend to die earlier than people who aren’t hypervigilant about health concerns.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 13, 2023

"Those who are hypervigilant due to anxiety or trauma are very prone over-apologizing," James wrote to Salon.

From Salon ● Nov. 29, 2023