unwary

un·wary

adjective \ˌən-ˈwer-ē\

Definition of UNWARY

: not alert : easily fooled or surprised : heedless, gullible <cheats unwary tourists>

— un·wari·ly \-ˈwar-ə-lē, -ˈwer-\ adverb

— un·wari·ness \-ˈwer-ē-nəs\ noun

Examples of UNWARY

1. The fast-moving tide sometimes surprises unwary swimmers.
2. <e-mail scams that take advantage of unwary computer users>

First Known Use of UNWARY

1579

Related to UNWARY

Synonyms

aw-shucks, dewy, dewy-eyed, green, ingenuous, innocent, naïf (or naif), primitive, simple, simpleminded, uncritical, unknowing, unsophisticated, unsuspecting, unsuspicious, naive, unworldly, wide-eyed

Antonyms

cosmopolitan, experienced, knowing, sophisticated, worldly, worldly-wise

Related Words

callow, childish, immature, inexperienced, raw; childlike, idealistic, impractical, unrealistic; believing, credulous, gullible (also gullable), susceptible, trustful, trusting, unguarded; beguiled, duped, gulled, tricked; careless, heedless, thoughtless

Near Antonyms

critical, cynical, doubting, incredulous, skeptical, suspecting, suspicious, unconvinced; careful, cautious, guarded, leery (also leary), wary, watchful; down-to-earth, hardheaded, pragmatic (also pragmatical), realistic, sober; street-smart, streetwise

Rhymes with UNWARY

baneberry, barberry, bayberry, bearberry, bilberry, blackberry, black cherry, blaeberry, blueberry, Bradbury, bunchberry, Burberry, canary, chokeberry, chokecherry, cloudberry, contrary, costmary, cowberry, cranberry, crowberry, deerberry, equerry, gooseberry, ground-cherry, hackberry, Hail Mary, inkberry, Juneberry, knobkerrie, library, mulberry, nondairy, pokeberry, primary, raspberry, rosemary, scalare, shadberry, snowberry, soapberry, strawberry, summary, sweet cherry, teaberry, tilbury, tooth fairy, twinberry, vagary, wheat berry, wolfberry, youngberry