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

Examples of cautious in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The study also underscores the many unknowns surrounding marijuana’s impact on the human body and the need to be cautious when using it, said Ashley Garling, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy who was not involved in the study. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 21 Oct. 2024 Its profit edged past analysts’ expectations, but its revenue fell short as lower crude prices pushed some international producers to be cautious with their spending. Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2024 The following groups may want to be especially cautious with melatonin use. Willow Jarosh, Ms, Rd, Health, 18 Oct. 2024 Based on this data, venture capital continues to be in a state of cautious optimism. Ray Zhou, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cautious 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cautious.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near cautious

Cite this Entry

“Cautious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cautious. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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