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 But don’t count on the administration to continue so cautiously after the midterms. — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2026 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 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

God seems deliberately to have created variety and cognitive function in the human species.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026
Investigators were trying to determine Wednesday whether the robot's actions were deliberately controlled by two young men who apparently livestreamed the incident in the western city of Cologne on social media.

— October 14, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of deliberately

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

Adverb

What changed second, more slowly, was trust, which had to be built one decision at a time.

— Ken Paskins, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
The company said a self-copying AI built on small models would spread slowly, with the number of infected devices doubling every few days, but would be hard to stamp out once loose.

— Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 13 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 17 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of cautiously

adverb

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