CAUTIOUS Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'cautious' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of cautious are chary , circumspect , and wary . While all these words 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

Q: When is it sensible to use 'chary' instead of 'cautious'?

The synonyms chary and cautious are sometimes interchangeable, but chary implies a cautious reluctance to give, act, or speak freely. // chary of signing papers without having read them first

Q: When can 'circumspect' be used instead of 'cautious'?

While the synonyms circumspect and cautious are close in meaning, circumspect suggests less fear and stresses the surveying of all possible consequences before acting or deciding. // circumspect in his business dealings

Q: Where would 'wary' be a reasonable alternative to 'cautious'?

Although the words wary and cautious have much in common, wary emphasizes suspiciousness and alertness in watching for danger and cunning in escaping it. // keeps a wary eye on the competition

cautious

adjective

ˈkȯ-shəs

Definition of cautious next

as in careful

having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble a cautious approach to everyday living

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How does the adjective cautious contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of cautious are chary, circumspect, and wary. While all these words 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

When is it sensible to use chary instead of cautious?

The synonyms chary and cautious are sometimes interchangeable, but chary implies a cautious reluctance to give, act, or speak freely.

chary of signing papers without having read them first

When can circumspect be used instead of cautious?

While the synonyms circumspect and cautious are close in meaning, circumspect suggests less fear and stresses the surveying of all possible consequences before acting or deciding.

circumspect in his business dealings

Where would wary be a reasonable alternative to cautious?

Although the words wary and cautious have much in common, wary emphasizes suspiciousness and alertness in watching for danger and cunning in escaping it.

keeps a wary eye on the competition

Examples Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of cautious The cuts enable the Big Tech firm to carry more items for shoppers that are looking to trade down, with Jassy saying in an August earnings call that consumers were exhibiting more cautious spending habits. —

Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 1 Nov. 2024 September 2024 Seven of Swords: This month you are being called to act in a more cautious and strategic way. —

Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Nov. 2024 The current system pushes British founders toward cautious growth, early exits, or moving abroad. —

Alena Botros, Fortune Europe, 1 Nov. 2024 With Hollywood still one of the top donors to the Democrats, those conversations alternate from cautious optimism to dismay to out-and-out anger. —

Dominic Patten, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cautious

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cautious

Adjective

The researchers are careful to point out that this method was intended to work only with cooperative participants.

Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024
This process begins with careful curation and labeling of data before it's fed into AI models.

Rehan Jalil, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024