1
as in cautious
having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble
careful drivers slow down on slick or icy roadways
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in meticulous
taking, showing, or involving great care and effort
that furniture maker was known to be a most careful worker, so his output was small
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 careful
Be careful of the sugar content in kombucha, as some brands add a lot of sugar.
—
Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 11 Sep. 2025
Mix gently to combine, being careful not to overwork the meat.
—Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 11 Sep. 2025
But Welles is very careful not to make explicitly partisan statements.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2025
That said, older guests still make up a large share of the market, so lines are careful to balance both sets of expectations.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, AFAR Media, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for careful
Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 11 Sep. 2025
Mix gently to combine, being careful not to overwork the meat.
—Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 11 Sep. 2025
But Welles is very careful not to make explicitly partisan statements.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2025
That said, older guests still make up a large share of the market, so lines are careful to balance both sets of expectations.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, AFAR Media, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for careful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for careful
Adjective
-
The duo have been cautious in their classification, allowing for the possibility that a torus of material could be behind the observations.—
Nola Taylor Tillman,
Space.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
But being cautious doesn’t mean ignoring the risks.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Still, for all the meticulous panning, the transition of power at the top of the City hierarchy is very different to what was expected to happen when Guardiola arrived in 2016.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Potashnick took skepticism as an invitation to share his process, bringing his roughly 100,000 TikTok followers behind the scenes and on frequent farm trips, offering a glimpse of his team’s meticulous operation.—
The Bon Appétit Staff,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Other than in the Second Circuit, the federal courts of appeals generally have interpreted the Confrontation Clause to require face-to-face cross examination, and counsel should be wary of giving up that important right.—
Robert Anello,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
For decades, educators have been wary of the decline in critical thinking and its impact on undermining the very purpose of education.—
Sixteen Ramos,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Now, in the years since his brother's death, Melvin says he's become increasingly conscientious about his own health.—
Alex Ross,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Lawyers, over decades, tend to become more conscientious but less agreeable.—
Dave Winsborough,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Knowing these risk factors can encourage individuals to be more alert about suicide.—
Eric Wood,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Both Stewart and Kalitta were alert and exited their cars under their own power.—
Lydia Mee,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
His banter with deadpan Principal Woodman (John Sylvester White) and his loving, eye-rolling wife Julie (Marcia Strassman) brought the series full circle, blending schoolyard shenanigans with heartfelt adult comedy.—
Marc Berman,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Jaiden is a sweet, loving, and happy young person whose smile can light up any room!—
MARE Staff,
Boston Herald,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This suspect has now been stopped in his tracks because of the diligent and tenacious work done by investigators at both the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The researchers concluded that, especially in relatively dense neighborhoods, even if residents take diligent action in defense of their own houses, that may not matter much if their neighbors don’t.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Careful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/careful. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share