Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

chary

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of chary

having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble

  • chary investors who weren't burned by the dot-com bust
Synonyms of chary

alert, careful, cautious, circumspect, conservative, considerate, gingerly, guarded, heedful, safe, wary
Words Related to chary

advertent, attentive, awake, observant, regardful, vigilant, watchful

hypercautious

foresighted, foresightful, forethoughtful, provident, thoughtful

cagey (also cagy), calculating, canny, shrewd

deliberate, slow

ultracareful, ultracautious
Near Antonyms of chary

bold, brash, impetuous, rash, reckless, venturesome

asleep, inattentive, regardless

inconsiderate, thoughtless

lax, neglectful, negligent, remiss

imprudent, indiscreet, injudicious

absentminded, forgetful

inadvertent, unintentional, unplanned
Antonyms of chary

careless, heedless, incautious, unguarded, unmindful, unsafe, unwary

Synonym Discussion of chary

cautious, circumspect, wary, chary 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
circumspect suggests less fear and stresses the surveying of all possible consequences before acting or deciding.
    • circumspect in his business dealings
wary emphasizes suspiciousness and alertness in watching for danger and cunning in escaping it.
    • keeps a wary eye on the competition
chary implies a cautious reluctance to give, act, or speak freely.
    • chary of signing papers without having read them first

Learn More about chary

  1. Dictionary: Definition of chary Spanish Central: Translation of chary Nglish: Translation of chary for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up chary? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games