as in cautious
having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble
she has a reputation for being quiet and circumspect in investigating charges of child abuse
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Recent Examples of circumspect
But the research also suggests that social media use is becoming more passive and circumspect — around half of adult social media users (49 percent) now actively post, share, or comment — down from 61 percent in 2024.
—
Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
Over the years, during the San Francisco 49ers’ myriad contract negotiations with their many star players, general manager John Lynch has typically been circumspect when discussing those high-stakes discussions with reporters.
—Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle, 29 Mar. 2026
Other farmhands were less circumspect.
—Boyce Upholt, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
After scoring a more mortal 21 points in Thursday’s 112-105 win against Milwaukee – the Heat’s seventh victory in a row – Adebayo was circumspect, appreciative and reflective about making history.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for circumspect
Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
Over the years, during the San Francisco 49ers’ myriad contract negotiations with their many star players, general manager John Lynch has typically been circumspect when discussing those high-stakes discussions with reporters.
—Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle, 29 Mar. 2026
Other farmhands were less circumspect.
—Boyce Upholt, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
After scoring a more mortal 21 points in Thursday’s 112-105 win against Milwaukee – the Heat’s seventh victory in a row – Adebayo was circumspect, appreciative and reflective about making history.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for circumspect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumspect
Adjective
-
In a groove Phil Maton is cautious to ever declare that his delivery has fully come together.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
-
Beneath the measured pace of transactions — collectors more cautious, galleries recalibrating, auction houses tempering expectations — the intellectual and aesthetic stakes of contemporary art feel newly urgent.—
Andrew S. Jacobson,
Baltimore Sun,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
The move, Lindon said, is careful.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
-
However, the Vaile Victorian Society, the volunteer group that maintains the house and runs tours, worries that once the house ceases to become a public property, the careful preservation work, which the aged property relies on, will be impossible to maintain.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
But many Angelenos remained wary of mass transit.—
Oren Peleg,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
-
These are frequently active volcanoes, unlikely to produce a major explosive event, and people in surrounding communities generally know to be wary of them.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circumspect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumspect. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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