cautious

adjective

cau·tious | \ ˈkȯ-shəs

Definition of cautious

: careful about avoiding danger or risk cautious investors cautious optimism

Other Words from cautious Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about cautious

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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

Peters, cautious and exacting, explained to me one of the main loopholes that property companies like Deutsche Wohnen have found in German rental regulations. — Elisabeth Zerofsky, The New Yorker, "The Causes and Consequences of Berlin’s Rapid Gentrification," 12 July 2019 Individual investors are helping power this year’s rally in U.S. government debt, a sign many remain cautious even as stocks push to new highs. — Daniel Kruger, WSJ, "As Stocks Surge to Records, Nervous Investors Buy Bonds, Too," 8 July 2019 Since the Mueller report on Russian election interference was released in April, Pelosi has been cautious on impeachment, citing a lack of congressional support. — Alejandro De La Garza, Time, "'She Is Making a Mistake': Rep. Justin Amash Says Nancy Pelosi Should Move Forward on Impeachment," 7 July 2019 In a trench extraction, firefighters must be cautious not to cause a secondary collapse, an LAFD public information officer said. — Jaclyn Cosgrove, latimes.com, "Trench collapse kills worker in Encino," 3 July 2019 Given his injury history, some may be cautious to spend big on Pellegrini. — SI.com, "Luca Pellegrini: 5 Things to Know About Juventus' New Left-Back," 1 July 2019 The process of translating that potency into mainstream commercial success has been a slow and cautious one. — Lawrence Specker | Lspecker@al.com, al.com, "Alabama rapper Chika announces Warner deal, new video," 1 July 2019 Despite the grandiosity of the Project Titan moniker, Apple has been operating along similar, cautious lines for years. — David Z. Morris, Fortune, "Apple’s Latest Acquisition Shows Self-Driving Cars Are in the Doldrums of Disappointment," 27 June 2019 Inspections take more time, and buyers are extra cautious. — Annie Zak, Anchorage Daily News, "The November earthquake ‘put a shiver’ through the Anchorage housing market," 17 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cautious.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.