variants
also leary
as in wary
feeling or showing a lack of trust in someone or something
a leery attitude She seemed a little leery about the proposal. They were leery of their neighbors.
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Recent Examples of leery
All of which has left the PRC uniquely vulnerable to a cutoff of supplies from the region – and leery that such a disruption could actually occur.
—
Ilan Berman, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
Many farmers are also leery of solar, worrying that agrivoltaics could take working farmland out of use, affect their current operations or deteriorate soils.
—Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 11 July 2025
At the same time, Lohner was going to have a bunch of free agent suitors if he didn’t get drafted, which could well make the Broncos leery of trying to get him through waivers to the practice squad at the end of August.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 8 July 2025
Ironheart, though, has yet to be renewed, and the way that the series — which wrapped filming back in late 2022 — was slow-walked onto our screens has many leery of Marvel’s future plans for Riri & Co.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for leery
Ilan Berman, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
Many farmers are also leery of solar, worrying that agrivoltaics could take working farmland out of use, affect their current operations or deteriorate soils.
—Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 11 July 2025
At the same time, Lohner was going to have a bunch of free agent suitors if he didn’t get drafted, which could well make the Broncos leery of trying to get him through waivers to the practice squad at the end of August.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 8 July 2025
Ironheart, though, has yet to be renewed, and the way that the series — which wrapped filming back in late 2022 — was slow-walked onto our screens has many leery of Marvel’s future plans for Riri & Co.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for leery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leery
Adjective
-
Other than in the Second Circuit, the federal courts of appeals generally have interpreted the Confrontation Clause to require face-to-face cross examination, and counsel should be wary of giving up that important right.—
Robert Anello,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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For decades, educators have been wary of the decline in critical thinking and its impact on undermining the very purpose of education.—
Sixteen Ramos,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The duo have been cautious in their classification, allowing for the possibility that a torus of material could be behind the observations.—
Nola Taylor Tillman,
Space.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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But being cautious doesn’t mean ignoring the risks.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Gustafson is skeptical, but certain.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
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The elaborateness of these explanations, in Frank’s view, is a reason to be skeptical of them.—
Matthew Hutson,
New Yorker,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Leery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leery. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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