Eagle-eyed
What it means
Exceptionally quick to notice small but important details.
Reach for it when praising alert observation that catches what others overlook
An eagle-eyed archivist noticed the date hidden beneath the later label.
Words to choose between 6
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday |
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| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
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playful
Fits when alert competence suits informal praise
Careful This chatty idiom weakens a formal appraisal and is broader than visual acuity.
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everyday
Fits when sustained vigilance prevents a problem
Careful Watchful suggests guarding against risk, not simply spotting a useful detail.
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professional
Fits when careful noticing is the main strength
Careful Observant is measured, lacking the exceptional sharpness of eagle-eyed.
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professional
Fits when the person grasps meaning beneath what is visible
Careful Perceptive can describe social insight without proving attention to small details.
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formal
Fits when fine judgment separates quality from mediocrity
Careful Discerning concerns evaluation and taste more than rapid observation.
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literary
sharp-eyed
Fits when visual detection specifically deserves praise
Careful Sharp-eyed is less natural for noticing logical inconsistencies or shifts in tone.
Opposites 4
- unobservant
- inattentive
- oblivious
- careless
Common phrases 3
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eagle-eyed observer
An eagle-eyed observer identified the swapped labels before judging began.
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eagle-eyed attention
Her eagle-eyed attention kept tiny transcription errors out of the catalogue.
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remain eagle-eyed
Inspectors must remain eagle-eyed during the final safety walk.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated