gingerly 1 of 2

adjective

ˈjin-jər-lē How to pronounce gingerly (audio)
Definition of gingerlynext
as in careful
having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble gave the cork on the bottle of champagne a gingerly twist

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

gingerly

2 of 2

adverb

as in carefully

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gingerly
Adjective
Despite the satisfaction that handlers take in gingerly nursing pangolins back to their full strength, the center’s location and the handlers’ identities must remain a secret. — Kang-Chun Cheng, Christian Science Monitor, 9 July 2025 Unlike the gingerly approach to easing restrictions targeting the spread of the virus, the country is split over reopening businesses and schools. — Kendall Karson, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2021
Adverb
The star running back then walked gingerly to the sideline, accompanied by trainers on either side of him. — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 27 Sep. 2026 Dobbins gingerly walked off the field after a 4-yard carry at the end of the third quarter. — Sam Jane, Denver Post, 20 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gingerly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gingerly
  1. careful
  2. carefully
  3. wary
  4. formally
  5. cautious
  6. methodically
  7. orderly
  8. systematically
Adjective
  • Full-scale, 10-foot Hulk standins helped actors and camera crews judge his dimensions on set, and even his pants required careful attention.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Turning a field into a recognizable maze requires specialized planning and careful execution.
    — Alexa Liacko, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of careful
Adverb
  • Just be sure to check your plants carefully for pests, like scale, before bringing them back inside in fall.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Families with children should also check carefully that the kids meet the ride’s height and restraint requirements, which are designed to ensure that the safety equipment fits correctly.
    — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of carefully
Adjective
  • The third quarter earnings season has only just started, and it's expected to be strong, but investors are growing wary of the market.
    — Sarah Min, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Saxberger is wary, but Meyers’s admiration touches something, and soon the older man’s convinced to join a nightly meeting of young aesthetes.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of wary
Adverb
  • Two games into the National League Championship Series, the three-peat was formally placed on life support Monday after the mighty Dodgers lost a second consecutive game to those little giants known as Milwaukee Brewers.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • These low-level thugs typically are not believed to be formally aligned with Iran.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of formally
Adjective
  • For now, a Super El Niño offers a reason for cautious optimism — not a promise of a drought-busting winter.
    — Callie Zanandrie, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • People with certain medical conditions should be particularly cautious about intense, high-speed rides.
    — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of cautious
Adverb
  • Investigators have been methodically sifting through the soil in layers, going down about 3 feet.
    — Joe Holden, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • And then the game starts, the nerves dissipate, and the opponent is methodically slayed.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of methodically
Adverb
  • The man worked as a hospital orderly, according to the AP.
    — Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026
  • Policymakers have moved to keep the selloff orderly.
    — Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Definition of orderly
Adverb
  • This type of structured risk assessment is already extensively used in industry through HAZOP reviews, where potential deviations, causes, consequences and safeguards are systematically examined before a process is put into operation.
    — Gregory Shahnovsky, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Israel and the United States have hit thousands of Iranian targets, systematically destroying much of the country’s military infrastructure and killing many of its top leaders.
    — Justin Bronk, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of systematically

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Cite this Entry

“Gingerly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gingerly. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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