careful

adjective

care·​ful ˈker-fəl How to pronounce careful (audio)
carefuller; carefullest
1
a
: marked by wary caution or prudence
be very careful with knives
b
: marked by attentive concern and solicitude
careful farm management
c
: marked by painstaking effort to avoid errors or omissions
often used with of or an infinitive
careful of money
careful to adjust the machine
2
: exercising or taking care
careful of a child's welfare
3
archaic
b
: filling with care or solicitude
carefully adverb
carefulness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for careful

careful, meticulous, scrupulous, punctilious mean showing close attention to detail.

careful implies attentiveness and cautiousness in avoiding mistakes.

a careful worker

meticulous may imply either commendable extreme carefulness or a hampering finicky caution over small points.

meticulous scholarship

scrupulous applies to what is proper or fitting or ethical.

scrupulous honesty

punctilious implies minute, even excessive attention to fine points.

punctilious observance of ritual

Examples of careful in a Sentence

He is a careful driver. You can never be too careful about these things. Be careful! The stove is hot! She was careful of their feelings. The police were careful to leave the room exactly as they found it. Police made a careful examination of the scene. They produced a careful study of the building.
Recent Examples on the Web The couple were careful not to over-celebrate Davis-Woodhall’s Olympic gold medal at the time, given that their goal was only half-complete with Woodhall still yet to compete at the Paralympics. Don Riddell, CNN, 7 Sep. 2024 Simply fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and generously apply it to the caulking where mold appears (being careful not to get too close to any surrounding unsealed grout). Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2024 Hydration pack: on sale for $200 (Nathan) Proper hydration is essential for any mileage, but a marathon will require careful consideration and fine-tuning during training. Nora Colomer, Fox News, 7 Sep. 2024 As both programmer and distributor, Disney has to strike a careful balance with its business partners and can’t be seen as favoring Hulu + Live TV at the expense of other distribution outlets, which could be viewed as a form of self-dealing. Dade Hayes, Deadline, 6 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for careful 

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

Word History

Etymology

see care entry 1

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Time Traveler
The first known use of careful was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near careful

Cite this Entry

“Careful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/careful. Accessed 12 Sep. 2024.

Kids Definition

careful

adjective
care·​ful ˈke(ə)r-fəl How to pronounce careful (audio)
ˈka(ə)r-
1
: using care : watchful
a careful driver
2
: made, done, or said with care
a careful examination
carefully adverb
carefulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on careful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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