careful

adjective

care·​ful ˈker-fəl 

carefuller; carefullest

1

a

: marked by wary caution or prudence

be very careful with knives

b

: marked by attentive concern and solicitude

careful farm management

c

: marked by painstaking effort to avoid errors or omissions

—often used with of or an infinitive

careful of money

careful to adjust the machine

2

: exercising or taking care

careful of a child's welfare

3

archaic

a

: solicitous, anxious

b

: filling with care or solicitude

carefully

ˈker-f(ə-)lē 

adverb

carefulness

ˈker-fəl-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• alert
• cautious
• chary
• circumspect
• conservative
• considerate
• gingerly
• guarded
• heedful
• safe
• wary

Choose the Right Synonym for careful

careful, meticulous, scrupulous, punctilious mean showing close attention to detail.

careful implies attentiveness and cautiousness in avoiding mistakes.

a careful worker

meticulous may imply either commendable extreme carefulness or a hampering finicky caution over small points.

meticulous scholarship

scrupulous applies to what is proper or fitting or ethical.

scrupulous honesty

punctilious implies minute, even excessive attention to fine points.

punctilious observance of ritual

Examples of careful in a Sentence

He is a careful driver.

You can never be too careful about these things.

Be careful! The stove is hot!

She was careful of their feelings.

The police were careful to leave the room exactly as they found it.

Police made a careful examination of the scene.

They produced a careful study of the building.

Recent Examples on the Web

In comments at the Morgan Stanley media conference, the Fox CEO was again extremely careful to stress that the goal is not to cannibalize linear television and Fox will not advertise it on linear television but is meant purely to capture those who cut the cord or have never subscribed to cable. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 3 Mar. 2025

There’s potential for clarity in resolving any lingering tension, but also be careful not to speak too rashly. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 3 Mar. 2025

Gently stir in the cooked, cooled squash to coat it, being careful not to break up the squash. —Patricia S York, Southern Living, 2 Mar. 2025

Installing a graphics card on a case that has an external slot bracket like this one requires builders to slide the card’s I/O bracket backward, though the slot bracket’s opening, while being careful not to snag the tabs at the bottom of the card’s bracket on motherboard components. —PCMAG, 2 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see care entry 1

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Phrases Containing careful

• (be) careful what you wish for

Rhymes for careful

• prayerful

Kids Definition

careful

adjective

care·​ful ˈke(ə)r-fəl 

ˈka(ə)r-

1

: using care : watchful

a careful driver

2

: made, done, or said with care

a careful examination

carefully

-f(ə-)lē 

adverb

carefulness

-fəl-nəs 

noun