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 As a result, consumers have grown skittish about the economy’s future, wary of higher inflation and rising unemployment. Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025 But the very existence of such a ban shows that the continent has long been deeply wary of atomic technology. Anna Heim, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025 Coel, the boundary-pushing revelation from I May Destroy You, is a perfect foil, hiding Lori’s feelings behind her deadpan delivery, unblinking sphinx-like stare and wary body language but poised to shoot barbs when the moment calls for them. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025 Others are wary about demand, however. Pia Singh, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wary
Adjective
  • Employers increasingly wonder whether campuses are cultivating independent thinkers or just cautious followers.
    Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The sum dwarfs most acquisitions this year — and marks TIFF’s first eight-figure deal in several editions — underlining the resilience of genre cinema at a time when studios and streamers alike are cautious.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • But Eliasen is careful not to let scope creep derail initial implementations.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Knowing these risk factors can encourage individuals to be more alert about suicide.
    Eric Wood, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Both Stewart and Kalitta were alert and exited their cars under their own power.
    Lydia Mee, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wary. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on wary

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!