variants
or less commonly leary
: suspicious, wary
—often used with of
leery of strangers
She seemed a little leery of the proposal.
Examples of leery in a Sentence
They were leery of their neighbors.
Recent Examples on the Web
As consumers returned to dining out, traveling and other services, many fast-food cashiers, front-desk clerks and hair stylists were leery of coming back to in-person jobs and living off generous government stimulus checks and other aid, Hershbein said.
—
Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 4 Feb. 2025
While consumers are leery of any more inflation, especially in the price-hike-happy streaming business, the financial world has long seen significant opportunity for the company to boost its profit margins by raising prices.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 21 Jan. 2025
He is expected to cruise to Senate confirmation, like Trump’s other nominees, despite the misgivings of some Republicans who are leery of his affiliation with Project 2025, the conservative policy playbook that became a magnet for controversy during last year’s election.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 16 Jan. 2025
Insurers have become increasingly leery given the high risk.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for leery 
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Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 4 Feb. 2025
While consumers are leery of any more inflation, especially in the price-hike-happy streaming business, the financial world has long seen significant opportunity for the company to boost its profit margins by raising prices.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 21 Jan. 2025
He is expected to cruise to Senate confirmation, like Trump’s other nominees, despite the misgivings of some Republicans who are leery of his affiliation with Project 2025, the conservative policy playbook that became a magnet for controversy during last year’s election.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 16 Jan. 2025
Insurers have become increasingly leery given the high risk.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for leery
Dictionary Entries Near leery
Cite this Entry
“Leery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leery. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
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leery
adjective
: suspicious sense 2, wary
leery of strangers
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