cautious

adjective

cau·​tious ˈkȯ-shəs 

: careful about avoiding danger or risk

cautious investors

cautious optimism

cautiously adverb

cautiousness noun

Synonyms of cautious

• careful
• wary
• alert

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

Surprisingly, his tenure as Aquaman villain Black Manta in the tumultuous DC Extended Universe had no bearing on his cautious approach to accepting a Marvel role. —Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026

At the same time, Jim struck a more cautious tone on fellow Club name Wells Fargo , which was up Thursday but down for the year. —Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 4 June 2026

In a Facebook post Tuesday, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office urged the public to remain cautious of unsolicited phone calls demanding money and provided several tips to stay safe from scams. —Kassia Bonesteel, CBS News, 4 June 2026

The Royals will take a cautious approach with his return, easing him back into the lineup in coming days. —Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

see caution entry 1

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cautious

• hyper-cautious

Rhymes for cautious

• incautious
• nauseous

Kids Definition

cautious

adjective

cau·​tious ˈkȯ-shəs 

: marked by or given to caution

a cautious reply

cautiously adverb

cautiousness noun