chary

chary

adj \ˈcher-ē\

chari·erchari·est

Definition of CHARY

1

archaic : dear, treasured

2

: discreetly cautious: as a : hesitant and vigilant about dangers and risks b : slow to grant, accept, or expend <a person very chary of compliments>

— chari·ly \ˈcher-ə-lē\ adverb

Examples of CHARY

1. <chary investors who weren't burned by the dot-com bust>

Origin of CHARY

Middle English, sorrowful, dear, from Old English cearig sorrowful, from caru sorrow — more at care

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to CHARY

Synonyms: alert, cautious, careful, circumspect, conservative, considerate, gingerly, guarded, heedful, safe, wary

Antonyms: careless, heedless, incautious, unguarded, unmindful, unsafe, unwary

Related Words: advertent, attentive, awake, observant, regardful, vigilant, watchful; hypercautious; foresighted, foresightful, forethoughtful, provident, thoughtful; cagey (also cagy), calculating, canny, shrewd; deliberate, slow; ultracareful, ultracautious

Near Antonyms: bold, brash, impetuous, rash, reckless, venturesome; asleep, inattentive, regardless; inconsiderate, thoughtless; lax, neglectful, negligent, remiss; imprudent, indiscreet, injudicious; absentminded, forgetful; inadvertent, unintentional, unplanned

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See Synonym Discussion at cautious