Synonym Chooser

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

Example 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 Here’s How to Pull Off the Look By René Chávez Esparza Kendall Jenner’s $100 Dad Sneakers Should Be Added to Your Cart By Teresa Romero Martínez Another thing to note: One area to be cautious with powder is around your eyes. Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour, 2 Apr. 2025 Another snapshot showed Bronze standing a cautious distance away from a small fish, with his father adding laughing emojis to the image. Angel Saunders, People.com, 1 Apr. 2025 Avoid sudden braking or acceleration, and be especially cautious on hills or when making turns. Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 30 Mar. 2025 Manaea and McNeil are aiming to be back in mid-to-late April, but the Mets are taking a cautious approach with both of them. Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cautious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cautious
Adjective
  • But the discussion around Golden this season has been muted, strained and careful all the way to the end, Monday’s dramatic 65-63 comeback win against Houston to seize the title.
    Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Many target companies use different software and services—Google vs. Microsoft, on-premise vs. cloud, etc. Unraveling and consolidating these technologies is a complex process that requires careful planning and execution.
    David Van Ronk, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Subject to partisan litmus tests, military leaders might be wary of offering advice that contradicts the administration’s priorities.
    Risa Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2025
  • That might mean that a recession caused by the Trump administration's tariff policy would actually drive adoption of artificial intelligence by companies that have so far been wary of the tech.
    Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The Suncoast region is seeing particularly high alert levels.
    Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
  • In these cases, being alert to others’ moods became a survival strategy.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cautious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cautious. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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