Antonyms for the phrase "were remiss" include conscientious, diligent, attentive, responsible, vigilant, careful, meticulous, punctual, and thorough. To be remiss is to be careless or negligent in the performance of duties, while the aforementioned antonyms represent qualities that indicate attentiveness and responsibility. For example, a conscientious student submits all assignments on time and pays attention during class, whereas a remiss student neglects assignments and shows little interest in learning. Being diligent means being hard-working and persistent, while a responsible person takes ownership of their actions and works to rectify any errors. Vigilance implies a watchful and alert attitude, while being meticulous means being extremely careful and thorough in one's work.