careful

adjective

care·​ful ˈker-fəl How to pronounce careful (audio)
carefuller; carefullest
1
a
: marked by wary caution or prudence
be very careful with knives
b
: marked by attentive concern and solicitude
careful farm management
c
: marked by painstaking effort to avoid errors or omissions
often used with of or an infinitive
careful of money
careful to adjust the machine
2
: exercising or taking care
careful of a child's welfare
3
archaic
b
: filling with care or solicitude
carefully adverb
carefulness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for careful

careful, meticulous, scrupulous, punctilious mean showing close attention to detail.

careful implies attentiveness and cautiousness in avoiding mistakes.

a careful worker

meticulous may imply either commendable extreme carefulness or a hampering finicky caution over small points.

meticulous scholarship

scrupulous applies to what is proper or fitting or ethical.

scrupulous honesty

punctilious implies minute, even excessive attention to fine points.

punctilious observance of ritual

Examples of careful in a Sentence

He is a careful driver. You can never be too careful about these things. Be careful! The stove is hot! She was careful of their feelings. The police were careful to leave the room exactly as they found it. Police made a careful examination of the scene. They produced a careful study of the building.
Recent Examples on the Web But Take Note As expected, this set is very small, and the accessories are tiny, so some of the pieces may get lost if kids aren’t particularly careful. Maya Polton, Parents, 23 Mar. 2024 Through thoughtful organization, the playroom project for Heidi and Spencer Pratt exemplifies how careful consideration of the needs of each family member can result in a space that fosters growth, play, and joy. Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2024 There were mass graves everywhere, landmines that we were taught about in school to be careful. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Mar. 2024 The author of this article, Katherine Alex Beaven, selected the remaining hotels after careful consideration and input from fellow travelers, colleagues, hundreds of reviews, and area experts. Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 20 Mar. 2024 Incorporating the latest trends into your everyday routine will give you an edge in recruiting interest; however, be careful not to let the additions drown you in debt. Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024 That number does not derive from any careful calculation of what parents can afford without hardship. Elliot Haspel, The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2024 Kimberly Senior’s direction also allows Kellett’s writing to sing, creating a comedic symphony out of her staging and careful timing. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 18 Mar. 2024 Management from many housing societies send daily updates to its residents, warning them of shortages and urging them to be careful with their water usage. Rhea Mogul, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'careful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see care entry 1

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Time Traveler
The first known use of careful was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near careful

Cite this Entry

“Careful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/careful. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

careful

adjective
care·​ful ˈke(ə)r-fəl How to pronounce careful (audio)
ˈka(ə)r-
1
: using care : watchful
a careful driver
2
: made, done, or said with care
a careful examination
carefully adverb
carefulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on careful

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