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

Kan highlights cautious optimism from new diagnostic blood tests and disease-modifying drugs, and stresses lifestyle changes as the most accessible path to brain health. — Sue Peschin, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

The injury has kept him out of two Grand Slams this year, with the Spaniard and his team taking a cautious approach to managing the kind of injury tennis players fear most. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Families should be cautious about signing documents, paying unverified individuals or accepting guarantees about release or case outcomes. — Ascend Agency, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026

Georgia residents should be most cautious of the pygmy rattlesnake, while Oklahoma's biggest snake threat is the western pygmy rattlesnake. — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 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