as in careful
having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble
gave the cork on the bottle of champagne a gingerly twist
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in carefully
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gingerly
Kendall Karson, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2021
All the while, amid the unpacking of groceries and food prep and reminiscing, the group addresses in gingerly fashion the subject of Rose’s cancer.
—Alexandra Enders, The New York Review of Books, 26 May 2020
David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Now that Grace is getting back on board with picking Hal as her veep, Hal and Billie are gingerly finding their way toward something like a professional détente.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gingerly
Adjective
Unlike the gingerly approach to easing restrictions targeting the spread of the virus, the country is split over reopening businesses and schools.
—Kendall Karson, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2021
All the while, amid the unpacking of groceries and food prep and reminiscing, the group addresses in gingerly fashion the subject of Rose’s cancer.
—Alexandra Enders, The New York Review of Books, 26 May 2020
Adverb
The Nicklaus team taught the parents how to care for Katy at home, including crushing her pills and gingerly placing them in her feeding tube.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Now that Grace is getting back on board with picking Hal as her veep, Hal and Billie are gingerly finding their way toward something like a professional détente.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gingerly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gingerly
Adjective
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Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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Step by careful step, Holbrook climbed, holding out bologna and cheese until two pairs of cautious eyes peeked back.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Adverb
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In part, the McKinley administration standardized various press protocols and routines involved in managing the press corps—holding somewhat regular briefings, for example, and carefully timing White House announcements.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
7 Nov. 2025
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The handsewn and carefully backstitched quilts feature colorful images of buffalo heads, turtles, eagles, angels and other patterns that come to Water in her dreams.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Most Venezuelans who spoke to CNN in Caracas were wary of sharing their opinions publicly.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
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Republicans, meanwhile, remain wary of voting to extend the additional Obamacare subsidies, said Rodney Whitlock, a vice president at the McDermott+ consultancy who was a longtime congressional staffer and advises on health care policy.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
Adverb
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When he was formally introduced at halftime by the PA announcer, however, the boos were resounding.—
David Aldridge,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
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The Colorado River Indian Tribes have formally accorded personhood status to the Colorado River, creating a powerful new mechanism to protect the eponymous river that makes life possible in their arid homelands.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
AZCentral.com,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Fearing a spike in anti-Japanese sentiment ahead of the parade, the Japanese embassy in Beijing warned its citizens to stay cautious and avoid speaking Japanese loudly in public – perhaps mindful that in recent years, there has been a spate of violent attacks against Japanese nationals in China.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
12 Nov. 2025
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Crypto assets did rise modestly alongside other risk assets following signs of progress in Washington, but the broader tone remains cautious.—
Sidhartha Shukla,
Fortune,
11 Nov. 2025
Adverb
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Sticking with the Cowboys would have been a disaster, as the Eagles methodically pulled apart their NFC East foes by a 41-7 margin.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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In the video, Sweeney goes from dirty blonde, with Oropeza methodically snipping the ends of her chin-length hair, to an icy, bright blonde.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
27 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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Their heritage and prestige is systematically being taken away from them.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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Kurchenko was also close to Viktor Yanukovych, the Kremlin-leaning Ukrainian president at the time, and was later accused by the succeeding Ukrainian government of systematically evading millions in taxes with the collusion of officials in Yanukovych’s administration.—
Olena Loginova,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gingerly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gingerly. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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