cautious

adjective

cau·tious ˈkȯ-shəs

Synonyms of cautious next

: careful about avoiding danger or risk

cautious investors

cautious optimism

cautiously adverb

cautiousness noun

Choose the Right Synonym for cautious

cautious, circumspect, wary, chary mean prudently watchful and discreet in the face of danger or risk.

cautious implies the exercise of forethought usually prompted by fear of danger.

a cautious driver

circumspect suggests less fear and stresses the surveying of all possible consequences before acting or deciding.

circumspect in his business dealings

wary emphasizes suspiciousness and alertness in watching for danger and cunning in escaping it.

keeps a wary eye on the competition

chary implies a cautious reluctance to give, act, or speak freely.

chary of signing papers without having read them first

Examples of cautious in a Sentence

Any cautious tourist will guard her passport. You cannot be overly cautious when you're driving in snow. He answered the question with a cautious reply.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

By recommending a cautious approach, Decentralized Masters enabled its members to make informed decisions in a volatile market. —

Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024 Trump's call for an immediate ceasefire went beyond the public policy stands taken by the Biden administration and Ukraine and drew a cautious response from Zelenskyy. —

Ellen Knickmeyer and Joanna Kozlowska The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 9 Dec. 2024 This fear of financial insecurity can lead to a more cautious approach to work, where individuals prioritize stability and mental health over traditional notions of hard work. —

Vikram Joshi, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024 Until now, federal banking regulators have tried hard to keep crypto confined to its own world by encouraging banks to take a cautious approach in dealing with crypto businesses and discouraging them from holding any crypto assets on their balance sheets. —

John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cautious