gingerly

gin·ger·ly

adj \ˈjin-jər-lē\

Definition of GINGERLY

: very cautious or careful

— gin·ger·li·ness noun

— gingerly adverb

Examples of GINGERLY

1. <gave the cork on the bottle of champagne a gingerly twist>

Origin of GINGERLY

perhaps from ¹ginger

First Known Use: 1604

Related to GINGERLY

Synonyms: alert, cautious, chary, circumspect, conservative, considerate, careful, 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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