Synonyms of wary

wary

adjective

ˈwer-ē 

as in cautious

having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble

kept a wary eye out for signs of the enemy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cautious
• careful
• alert
• circumspect
• guarded
• chary
• conservative
• considerate
• heedful
• safe
• gingerly
• thoughtful
• vigilant
• watchful
• attentive
• observant
• awake
• slow
• cagey
• deliberate
• regardful
• shrewd
• foresighted
• calculating
• hypercautious
• provident
• advertent
• forethoughtful
• canny
• foresightful
• ultracautious
• ultracareful

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• careless
• unsafe
• reckless
• unmindful
• regardless
• heedless
• unwary
• bold
• impetuous
• rash
• unguarded
• venturesome
• brash
• incautious
• negligent
• thoughtless
• inattentive
• lax
• asleep
• remiss
• inconsiderate
• neglectful
• imprudent
• indiscreet
• forgetful
• injudicious
• inadvertent
• unintentional
• unplanned
• absentminded

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

Recent Examples of wary

Nearby Country Club Plaza houses free parking garages and street parking — just be wary of time limits on street parking. —Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2026

South Korea should be wary of Czechia’s threat from set plays. —David Hickey, NBC news, 11 June 2026

Attorneys wary of voter roll request In court, attorneys for the state say in other cases the DOJ has said publicly that this data will be used for immigration enforcement. —CBS News, 10 June 2026

Four years ago, during his insurgent first campaign, this editorial board had been wary of some of Mejia’s radical rhetoric. —The Editorial Board, Daily News, 10 June 2026