as in wary
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Recent Examples of gun-shy
But the specter of political consequences has officials in Miami feeling gun-shy about taking a public stance that could incite the wrath of the state and federal governments.
—
Miami Herald, 12 Feb. 2026
But because Trump and the Republicans have been so effective in slapping extreme liberal caricatures on their opponents, Democrats are gun-shy.
—Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
With President Donald Trump sending armed federal agents into communities around the country, even more once gun-shy liberals and leftists are considering getting armed.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
City staff members and officials remain a little gun-shy, Hazeltine said.
—Susan Gill Vardon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Dec. 2025
The pressure from both the U.S. and China has seemingly made Panama more gun-shy about those ports shifting hands, with numerous officials putting CK Hutchison’s partnership with the Panamanian government under scrutiny.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 13 Aug. 2025
The writers gave The X-Files an award back in 1996 when the overall Academy was gun-shy about voting for it in Outstanding Drama.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 2 Aug. 2025
Underneath the puns and pumps was a dress-down of the rom-com that ultimately told the story of a woman who fell in love, came out worse, and became gun-shy.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 30 May 2025
Miami Herald, 12 Feb. 2026
But because Trump and the Republicans have been so effective in slapping extreme liberal caricatures on their opponents, Democrats are gun-shy.
—Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
With President Donald Trump sending armed federal agents into communities around the country, even more once gun-shy liberals and leftists are considering getting armed.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
City staff members and officials remain a little gun-shy, Hazeltine said.
—Susan Gill Vardon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Dec. 2025
The pressure from both the U.S. and China has seemingly made Panama more gun-shy about those ports shifting hands, with numerous officials putting CK Hutchison’s partnership with the Panamanian government under scrutiny.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 13 Aug. 2025
The writers gave The X-Files an award back in 1996 when the overall Academy was gun-shy about voting for it in Outstanding Drama.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 2 Aug. 2025
Underneath the puns and pumps was a dress-down of the rom-com that ultimately told the story of a woman who fell in love, came out worse, and became gun-shy.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 30 May 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gun-shy
Adjective
-
The moody Moon and wary Chiron trine across your talkative 3rd house and your convivial 11th house, guiding your explanations of complex issues.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Now, Iranians are likely to be wary about taking to the streets again because the Revolutionary Guard has demonstrated its ruthlessness, said Kamran Matin, an expert on Iran at the University of Sussex in southern England.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Still, some council members are leery of adding any new revenue-raising fees after the debacle of charging for parking at Balboa Park and the outcry from homeowners over the trash fees.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Mar. 2026
-
In fact, when the Astros had won three straight games with him sidelined, Williams was a bit leery about returning.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Other critics are taking a more cautious approach.—
Arielle Zionts,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Lujan Grisham wraps up her tenure next year, and state lawmakers wary of unchecked spending opted during the legislative session that ended last month to take a cautious approach.—
Morgan Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
28 Feb. 2026
-
To make the most of spring planting, start with site preparation and careful plant selection.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
By threading the needle, OpenAI found a way to placate both the Pentagon and its own employees, many of whom are skeptical of AI use in the military.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
28 Feb. 2026
-
That’s left some industry executives skeptical that Paramount will make good on its promise to increase its output of streaming programming, while making 30 theatrical film releases a year, the most of any studio by a wide margin.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Border czar Tom Homan says more than a thousand federal agents have already left Minnesota, though many community members remain distrustful and fearful.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The man lusting for power is always active, the center of the show, relentless, vigilant, distrustful, restless when anything stands in his way.—
David Brooks,
Mercury News,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Kool Gatyen Pajock was in a South Sudan hospital while a physiotherapist wrapped bandages around the 18-month-old’s legs under the watchful eye of his grandmother, Nyayual Chuol.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
James played for the Miami Heat for four years under the watchful eye of Riley.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
He was signed last summer to a one-year show-me contract worth $900,000 per season.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
18 Nov. 2025
-
Though there were some reasons for optimism in Kohl’s report on Wednesday—comparable sales were unchanged in July—the Kohl’s saga remains a show-me story.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
27 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gun-shy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gun-shy. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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