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Glite Dictionary
👁️ A monitor 🐕 A guard dog 👁️ To supervise
to watchdog

to watchdog

4.6
To look closely at people or groups to find wrong actions
  • verb
  • /ˈwɑːtʃdɔɡ/
translation icon : vigilar
  • The independent agency was established to watchdog the compliance of companies with new regulations.

Examples

  • Activists formed a group to watchdog the local government’s spending and ensure accountability.

  • We need one party to watchdog the other, or God knows what the world would become.

    Blog text (28)

  • It'll run independently and watchdog the MCP as well.

    Tron (1982)

  • A committee was set up to watchdog the project, preventing any misuse of funds or resources.

Synonyms

to keep an eye on
vsto watchdog
  • Informal
408 2.4

To watch someone or something carefully to make sure nothing bad happens

is focused on enforcing correct conduct rather than only safety
to oversee
vsto watchdog
221 3.9

To watch and direct other people's work

emphasizes close checking for proper conduct rather than general management
to supervise
vsto watchdog
189 3.5

Watch and guide people doing tasks to keep the work correct and safe

focuses on close monitoring to detect misconduct rather than directing tasks
to watch over
vsto watchdog
145 2.3

To look after someone or something to keep them safe

focuses on enforcing rules and finding problems rather than just care
to keep tabs on
vsto watchdog
  • Informal
43 3.9

To watch someone or something closely over time to see what happens

is used to ensure correct behaviour and spot problems rather than only tracking progress
to keep watch
vsto watchdog
30 3.1

To stay alert and watch for danger or trouble

is aimed at monitoring behaviour and finding problems rather than only guarding
to surveil
vsto watchdog
9 8.4

To watch people or places closely to get information and stop crime

is about ensuring proper conduct not primarily gathering information
to keep a close watch
vsto watchdog
8 3.0

Look at a person or thing very carefully for a while to notice problems

is aimed at ensuring proper conduct rather than only noting changes
to proctor
vsto watchdog
  • US
2 6.8

To watch students during an exam to stop cheating

is broader, applying to general monitoring beyond exam situations
to invigilate
vsto watchdog
  • UK
8.1

To watch students during an exam to stop cheating

covers wider roles of close monitoring outside exam settings

How Closely

to scrutinize
  • US
70 6.2
to watchdog
4.6
to supervise
189 3.5
to monitor
627 3.5
to keep an eye on
  • Informal
408 2.4
to watch
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

watchdog infinitive

Morphology

watchdog = watchdog (semi-transparent) = watch + dog

The verb is built by conversion from the noun 'watchdog', and the monitoring sense is metaphorically predictable but not fully literal.

Etymology

Watchdog as a verb comes from acting like a watchdog; it means to watch someone or something very closely to find problems. So to watchdog a process is to guard it by looking for unfair or unsafe behaviour.