CAUTIOUSLY Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

cautiously

adverb

Definition of cautiously

as in deliberately

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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 cautiously Still, Andersen is only cautiously optimistic about the future. — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026 Many former Soviet states in Central Asia have cautiously moved out of Russia’s orbit. — The Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Sep. 2026 The film cuts between Murray cautiously opening the suspicious package and FBI agents apprehending Kaczynski decades later. — Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026 But Logan wanted to proceed cautiously, not putting his neck on the line with intel that might not even be correct. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2026 If your skin is sensitive or reactive, proceed more cautiously with higher concentrations. — Danielle James, Glamour, 25 Sep. 2026 When The Associated Press visited Sunday, Tigrino cautiously emerged from his shelter, sniffed the air and paced around for a few minutes before slipping back into the foliage. — ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026 Californians are weighing a ballot measure that could reshape how local taxes pass, while two major insurers are cautiously reentering the state’s home insurance market. — Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2026 This usually begins with the wasp cautiously circling its target while slowly getting closer. — Sean Donnelly, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cautiously

Adverb

The paper, led by a researcher named Evan Hubinger, described an experiment in which Anthropic’s team had deliberately trained AI models to behave deceptively.

— Kevin Roose, Vanity Fair, 7 Oct. 2026
Some are very hands on, others deliberately removed from almost all day-to-day decisions.

— Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of deliberately

Adverb

The appointment time may be longer than for other gel manicures—and in many cases more expensive—but that laser focus on cleaning up the cuticles, prepping the nails, and carefully applying the polish is what helps it to last.

— Lucy Abbersteen, Allure, 9 Oct. 2026
Have any of these changes been carefully tested, following usual protocols for reviewing any changes to the census?

— Nancy Krieger, STAT, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of carefully

Adverb

Everyone must be ready for anything, and as 100 becomes 50, the kitchen slowly empties and the competition intensifies until one cook eventually walks away victorious.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
That was written for a world where the consequences of misplaced trust arrived slowly enough to correct.

— Bob Ackerman, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of slowly

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cautious

cautiously

cautiousness

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“Cautiously.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cautiously. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of cautiously

adverb

Example Sentences

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