cautious

adjective

cau·​tious ˈkȯ-shəs 

: careful about avoiding danger or risk

cautious investors

cautious optimism

cautiously adverb

cautiousness noun

Synonyms

• alert
• careful
• chary
• circumspect
• conservative
• considerate
• gingerly
• guarded
• heedful
• safe
• wary

Choose the Right Synonym for cautious

cautious, circumspect, wary, chary 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

circumspect suggests less fear and stresses the surveying of all possible consequences before acting or deciding.

circumspect in his business dealings

wary emphasizes suspiciousness and alertness in watching for danger and cunning in escaping it.

keeps a wary eye on the competition

chary implies a cautious reluctance to give, act, or speak freely.

chary of signing papers without having read them first

Examples of cautious in a Sentence

Any cautious tourist will guard her passport.

You cannot be overly cautious when you're driving in snow.

He answered the question with a cautious reply.

Recent Examples on the Web

But the Dolphins typically take a cautious approach with injured players, especially athletes as important as the team’s two starting pass rushers in Phillips and Chubb. —Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 8 June 2024

On Thursday, Europe’s benchmark stock index climbed to a record high before the rate cut was announced, but erased some of its gains amid signs that the bank would be cautious about future rate cuts. —Eshe Nelson, New York Times, 6 June 2024

Concerns involving instances of discrimination have followed American Airlines for several years, which resulted in the NAACP issuing an advisory warning in 2017 for Black travelers to be cautious about flying on the airline. —Jonathan Franklin, NPR, 4 June 2024

Due to high inflation, U.S. consumers and businesses are cautious about spending this year, Moynihan explained. —Bysheryl Estrada, Fortune, 31 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

see caution entry 1

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cautious

• hyper-cautious

Kids Definition

cautious

adjective

cau·​tious ˈkȯ-shəs 

: marked by or given to caution

a cautious reply

cautiously adverb

cautiousness noun