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
• thoughtful
• gingerly
• vigilant
• watchful
• attentive
• observant
• awake
• regardful
• slow
• cagey
• deliberate
• shrewd
• foresighted
• calculating
• hypercautious
• provident
• canny
• advertent
• cagy
• forethoughtful
• 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

Saudi Arabia, along with other Gulf Arab states, have been wary of getting embroiled in Iran’s conflict with Israel and the United States. —Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2025

Fortunately for Washington, America’s allies and trading partners have reasons of their own to be wary of a suddenly tighter embrace with Beijing. —Ned Temko, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Apr. 2025

Many owners were wary of the new program, worrying that the costs of participating would be too onerous. —Olivia Bensimon, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025

Subject to partisan litmus tests, military leaders might be wary of offering advice that contradicts the administration’s priorities. —Risa Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2025