careful

adjective

care·​ful ˈker-fəl 

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

a

: solicitous, anxious

b

: filling with care or solicitude

carefully

ˈker-f(ə-)lē 

adverb

carefulness

ˈker-fəl-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of careful

• cautious
• wary
• alert

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

Zavery was careful to emphasize no such succession discussions were taking place. — Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026

But the retreat was careful to necessarily ensure local voices and practitioners were involved every step of the way. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Aug. 2026

This meant that they were designed to administer large, complicated, stable programs through careful planning and centralized control and that the problems they were supposed to address were assumed to be known in advance. — Jennifer Pahlka, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Restoration and conservation efforts have been achieved through careful coordination by federal, state and local officials who recognized the need for environmental improvements — and the money to fund them, Cowen said. — Haley Parsley august 17, Sacbee.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see care entry 1

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing careful

• (be) careful what you wish for

Rhymes for careful

• prayerful

Kids Definition

careful

adjective

care·​ful ˈke(ə)r-fəl 

ˈka(ə)r-

1

: using care : watchful

a careful driver

2

: made, done, or said with care

a careful examination

carefully

-f(ə-)lē 

adverb

carefulness

-fəl-nəs 

noun