cautious

adjective

cau·​tious ˈkȯ-shəs 

: careful about avoiding danger or risk

cautious investors

cautious optimism

cautiously adverb

cautiousness noun

Synonyms

• careful
• wary
• alert

Choose the Right Synonym for cautious

cautious, circumspect, wary, chary mean prudently watchful and discreet in the face of danger or risk.

cautious implies the exercise of forethought usually prompted by fear of danger.

a cautious driver

circumspect suggests less fear and stresses the surveying of all possible consequences before acting or deciding.

circumspect in his business dealings

wary emphasizes suspiciousness and alertness in watching for danger and cunning in escaping it.

keeps a wary eye on the competition

chary implies a cautious reluctance to give, act, or speak freely.

chary of signing papers without having read them first

Examples of cautious in a Sentence

Any cautious tourist will guard her passport.

You cannot be overly cautious when you're driving in snow.

He answered the question with a cautious reply.

Recent Examples on the Web

Today, she is classified as having No Evidence of Disease (NED), meaning all detectable signs and symptoms of cancer are gone, a hopeful yet cautious place. —Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025

But instead of expecting the usual uptick in revenue that the festive period brings retailers, industry experts are predicting that consumers will likely take a more cautious approach to shopping than usual, due to economic uncertainty, rising costs, and inflation. —Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025

Fund managers are taking a cautious stance as the fourth quarter gets underway, opting to go underweight in risk assets in favor of defensive plays with lower volatility. —Tasmin Lockwood, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025

The cynic in me is cautious and keenly aware of the often empty allure of nostalgia, while the teen girl who spent her entire summer job money on an Xbox 360 and Halo 3 is vibrating with excitement. —Alyssa Mercante, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see caution entry 1

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cautious

• hyper-cautious

Rhymes for cautious

• incautious
• monoecious
• nauseous

Kids Definition

cautious

adjective

cau·​tious ˈkȯ-shəs 

: marked by or given to caution

a cautious reply

cautiously adverb

cautiousness noun