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

Be cautious when using vinegar, though, because its high acidity can break down the rubber seal and gaskets in your dishwasher over time. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 6 Dec. 2025

Pregnant and breastfeeding people should also be cautious since there isn’t enough data on how cloves or clove oil may affect them. —Caitlin Pagán, Verywell Health, 5 Dec. 2025

One question contended that the number of scripts entering production are decreasing, investment is becoming cautious, and distribution cycles are lengthening. —Marcus Lim, Variety, 5 Dec. 2025

While juice jacking remains largely theoretical, the TSA's cautious approach makes sense given the high-traffic nature of airports and the valuable data stored on travelers' devices. —Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 5 Dec. 2025

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
• monoecious
• nauseous

Kids Definition

cautious

adjective

cau·​tious ˈkȯ-shəs 

: marked by or given to caution

a cautious reply

cautiously adverb

cautiousness noun