WARINESS Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

wariness

noun

Definition of wariness

as in carefulness

a close attentiveness to avoiding danger only his unceasing wariness saved the party of skiers from an avalanche

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of wariness After twenty years apart, their extreme wariness feels absolutely right. — David Denby, New Yorker, 21 June 2026 Even beyond Cassidy, more Trump-friendly GOP lawmakers have expressed wariness in recent days about elements of the seemingly tenuous pact. — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 20 June 2026 Iranian wariness of the US is not new. — Nic Robertson, CNN Money, 19 June 2026 There is no hesitation, no wariness, no careful sizing-up. — Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026 Marjane was known for her wariness of interviews, and her ability to disarm with sharp wit and bittersweet humor could turn incisive. — Literary Hub, 18 June 2026 Maintain its wariness of people by throwing a small object at it, making a loud noise or spraying it with a hose. — Charlotte Observer, 17 June 2026 But the hope and awe turn to wariness as Pa and Laura meet Mitchell (Meegwun Fairbrother) and his daughter Good Eagle (Wren Zhawenim Gotts) by the creek, and though the Ingalls are friendly, the Osage Native Americans hesitate to engage. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 11 June 2026 Even some on the council who sided with Lee have expressed wariness about ceding much of their own power to the mayor. — Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 11 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wariness

Noun

This carefulness is clearly strategic.

— Gary Sernovitz, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
There was no carefulness in it.

— Zack Meisel, New York Times, 1 May 2026

Definition of carefulness

Noun

Political scientists urge caution when interpreting Gallup’s findings, noting that other polls have not observed the same drastic increase in young men’s religiosity.

— Chantelle Lee, Time, 9 July 2026
Drivers are urged to slow down and use extra caution to avoid hydroplaning.

— NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 8 July 2026

Definition of caution

Noun

The World Economic Forum calls it financial nihilism — the conclusion that the system no longer rewards prudence, driving a cohort toward crypto bets, prediction markets, and raided retirement accounts.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 July 2026
But not necessarily the knowledge, confidence or contacts to take it to next stage of monetization, strike collaborative partnerships or exercise operational prudence.

— Gaurav Sharma, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Definition of prudence

Noun

Sit, who went by the first name Tony, operated Happy K9 Academy and the dogs were in his care when they were kept in crates in a hot van and died, the district attorney’s office said.

— Phil Helsel, NBC news, 11 July 2026
Vivani argues that helping patients stay on treatment could also generate savings for the health-care system by reducing the risk of costly conditions linked to obesity.

— Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 11 July 2026

Definition of care

Noun

That attentiveness showed up in small ways throughout our stay.

— Alisha Prakash, Travel + Leisure, 27 June 2026
In the past 15 years, and especially in the last five, our city has seen an influx of pizza restaurants and chefs who’ve brought a diversity of styles and an attentiveness to elevated ingredients and approaches.

— Peter St. Onge Updated June 24, Charlotte Observer, 24 June 2026

Definition of attentiveness

Noun

The machine moves with circumspection, as if consciousness had just been ensouled in a new body.

— Stephen Witt, New Yorker, 6 July 2026
His quiet tone is not shyness or false modesty but circumspection and a sense of boundaries that imply respect and love for real communication.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026

Definition of circumspection

Browse Nearby Words

warily

wariness

waring

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Wariness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wariness. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of wariness

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on wariness

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

implacable

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes