Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective cautious contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of cautious are chary, circumspect, and wary. While all these words 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

When is it sensible to use chary instead of cautious?

The synonyms chary and cautious are sometimes interchangeable, but chary implies a cautious reluctance to give, act, or speak freely.

chary of signing papers without having read them first

When can circumspect be used instead of cautious?

While the synonyms circumspect and cautious are close in meaning, circumspect suggests less fear and stresses the surveying of all possible consequences before acting or deciding.

circumspect in his business dealings

Where would wary be a reasonable alternative to cautious?

Although the words wary and cautious have much in common, wary emphasizes suspiciousness and alertness in watching for danger and cunning in escaping it.

keeps a wary eye on the competition

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 cautious And some speakers at the large weekly rally in Tel Aviv over the war expressed a cautious hope not heard for months. Sam Mednick, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2025 Uber, Bolt, and other entrants in the space will also have to be cautious on their pricing strategies to avoid regulatory action as was witnessed in their previous tussles over taxi-hailing services with government agencies such as Kenya’s National Transport and Safety Authority. Martin K.n Siele, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025 Energy has had a tremendous five-year run, but investors have been cautious in 2025 as uncertainty swirls around policymakers. Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025 The first districts to encourage students to bring mobile phones to class did not better prepare youth for the future than schools that took a more cautious approach. Justin Reich, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cautious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cautious
Adjective
  • Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • These treatments require careful and ongoing monitoring.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Goodall was wary of doing another documentary on her life in 2017, but was persuaded by National Geographic to do so.
    Emily Krauser, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
  • This shows that parents and caregivers are growing wary of mounting student loan debt and are reluctant to have their children burdened by it in the future.
    De Elizabeth, Parents, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Watkins said law enforcement should stay alert when passing by a crowd, and stop to make sure everything is OK.
    Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Don’t get distracted by your phone, but stay alert for what’s ahead.
    Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cautious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cautious. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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