cautious

1 of 2

adjective

cau·​tious ˈkȯ-shəs 

: careful about avoiding danger or risk

cautious investors

cautious optimism

cautiously adverb

cautiousness noun

cautiousness

2 of 2

noun

cau·​tious·​ness

ˈkȯ-shəs-nəs

plural -es

: the quality or state of being cautious

Synonyms of cautious

Adjective

• 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

Adjective

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

Adjective

The challenge now is balancing expansion with operational discipline, particularly as Cava enters new markets and consumers become more cautious about spending. — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2026

Quality, innovation, customer value and decision-making are messier, and leaders should be cautious about claiming AI caused an improvement when many factors may have contributed. — Subha Barry, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026

On Holding reports earnings, but Cramer remains cautious on the athletic footwear. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026

Ukraine offered no official response to the dramatic results, but some in the country expressed cautious optimism the Democratic surge would ease pressure from Washington. — Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 5 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see caution entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

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