sentinels
Those standing watch
Sentinels is the plural of sentinel—a guard or watcher, especially one stationed to keep watch and warn of danger.
The word carries a military or ceremonial tone: Sentinels stood at the palace gates.
Figuratively, anything that stands watch can be a sentinel: The lighthouse served as a sentinel against the rocky coast.
In technology, sentinel values mark boundaries in data structures.
Building security guard
- gatekeeperOne controlling entry
- guardianProtective caretaker of another
- custodianGuardian of a place
- patrolRegular surveillance route
lookout · warden · defender · bodyguard · escort · bouncer · checkpoint · garrison
Display or supervisor
- detectorDevice that senses
- alarmUrgent warning signal
- beaconGuiding light source
- sensorInput-detecting device
radar · scanner · tracker · probe · early warning · tripwire · motion sensor · perimeter
Elevated structure for surveillance
- bastionFortified defensive position
- bulwarkDefensive fortification or safeguard
- rampartFortified defensive wall
- strongholdFortified place of defense
outpost · fortress · citadel · barricade · palisade · parapet · battlement · turret
Active mental awareness
- watchfulnessCareful, sustained attention
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
- warinessCautious distrust
- readinessState of being prepared
attention · observation · caution · heedfulness · circumspection · diligence · mindfulness · foresight
Social African mongooses
- prairie dogsBurrowing plains rodents
- geesePlural of goose
- crowsLarge black corvids
- monkeysTailed primates, not apes
dolphins · standing stones · rocky outcrops · buttes · sea stacks · redwoods · saguaros · baobabs
watchman
Building security guard
- gatekeeperOne controlling entry
- guardianProtective caretaker of another
- custodianGuardian of a place
patrol · lookout · warden · defender · bodyguard · escort · bouncer · checkpoint · garrison · guardhouse
monitor
Display or supervisor
sensor · radar · scanner · tracker · probe · early warning · tripwire · motion sensor · perimeter · security system
watchtower
Elevated structure for surveillance
- bastionFortified defensive position
- bulwarkDefensive fortification or safeguard
- rampartFortified defensive wall
stronghold · outpost · fortress · citadel · barricade · palisade · parapet · battlement · turret · garrison
alertness
Active mental awareness
- watchfulnessCareful, sustained attention
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
- warinessCautious distrust
readiness · attention · observation · caution · heedfulness · circumspection · diligence · mindfulness · foresight · prudence
meerkats
Social African mongooses
- prairie dogsBurrowing plains rodents
- geesePlural of goose
- crowsLarge black corvids
monkeys · dolphins · standing stones · rocky outcrops · buttes · sea stacks · redwoods · saguaros · baobabs
- heroeshero, heroes, heroine, heroines, superhero
- guardiansguardian angel, protector, protectors, guardians, keeper
- guardsguard, point guard, guardian, shooting guard, bodyguard
- guards and soldiersbodyguards, watchmen, gatekeepers, patrolmen, night watchmen
- watchmenwatchmen, guards, security guards, night watchmen, lookouts
- guard dutyguard post, guard tower, watchtowers, checkpoints, lookouts
- sentinel speciesSpecies signaling ecosystem changes
- sentinel nodeFirst lymph receiving drainage
- silent sentinels
- stand sentinelMaintain vigilant guard position