Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective wary contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of wary are cautious, chary, and circumspect. While all these words mean "prudently watchful and discreet in the face of danger or risk," wary emphasizes suspiciousness and alertness in watching for danger and cunning in escaping it.

keeps a wary eye on the competition

When would cautious be a good substitute for wary?

The meanings of cautious and wary largely overlap; however, cautious implies the exercise of forethought usually prompted by fear of danger.

a cautious driver

When might chary be a better fit than wary?

While in some cases nearly identical to wary, chary implies a cautious reluctance to give, act, or speak freely.

chary of signing papers without having read them first

In what contexts can circumspect take the place of wary?

In some situations, the words circumspect and wary are roughly equivalent. However, circumspect suggests less fear and stresses the surveying of all possible consequences before acting or deciding.

circumspect in his business dealings

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 wary Just know that in the winter, some restaurants and hotels close for the season, so be wary of booking between November to early April. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2025 So no regrets, but maybe next time be a little bit more wary of people. Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Sep. 2025 The movie tracks Charlene’s growth from a strong-willed teen into a wary, wily, powerful adult. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025 Even Vietnam, traditionally wary of Chinese influence, has drawn high levels of Chinese private investment because of the trade war between Washington and Beijing. Susannah Patton, Foreign Affairs, 25 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wary
Adjective
  • Homebuilders are getting more cautious, says economist Wolf.
    Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Markets had expected the more fiscally cautious Shinjiro Koizumi to win.
    Danny Bakst, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • These treatments require careful and ongoing monitoring.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Watkins said law enforcement should stay alert when passing by a crowd, and stop to make sure everything is OK.
    Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Don’t get distracted by your phone, but stay alert for what’s ahead.
    Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wary. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on wary

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