hypervigilance

American  

[hahy-per-vij-uh-luhns] / ˌhaɪ pərˈvɪdʒ ə ləns /

noun

1. the state or quality of being extremely alert or watchful.

   The patient outwardly exhibits classic symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, including hypervigilance, anxiety, facial tics, and extreme paranoia.

---

Etymology

Origin of hypervigilance

hyper- ( def. ) + vigilance ( def. )

Example Sentences

As I wrote in Strongmen, every authoritarian state seeks to create states of hypervigilance and fear among the public, so that people will self-censor, and comply with whatever the leader asks them to do.

From Salon • Feb. 6, 2025

Medication also ameliorated the physical symptoms of anxiety and hypervigilance.

From BBC • Jan. 25, 2025

Crime statistics indicate that these types of attacks are rare, but they underscore the hypervigilance women must take when going out, even for a run on campus.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 24, 2024

"We are in a stage of hypervigilance and detection," George said, adding that 77 people had been identified as being at high risk of infection.

From Reuters • Sep. 14, 2023

And in reality, it just got worse and worse and worse—inability to sleep, nightmares, hypervigilance, feeling like I was in danger all the time, shame, guilt, this ever-present anxiety, and other things.

From Slate • Feb. 28, 2023