cautious

adjective

cau·​tious ˈkȯ-shəs 

: careful about avoiding danger or risk

cautious investors

cautious optimism

cautiously adverb

cautiousness noun

Synonyms

• alert
• careful
• chary
• circumspect
• conservative
• considerate
• gingerly
• guarded
• heedful
• safe
• wary

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

Iran’s leaders have been cautious about risking a direct confrontation with Israel or the United States, as would almost certainly happen if a secret bombmaking program was discovered. —Joby Warrick, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024

When to be extra cautious Ibuprofen belongs to a class of drugs known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, which reduce pain and inflammation by blocking the activity of certain enzymes, Tsourounis said. —Melinda Wenner Moyer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Apr. 2024

Once the earthquake is over, experts say people need to remain cautious, especially if there is severe damage in the areas affected by the tremors. —Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2024

But Savannah’s last steps were cautious, according to helicopter footage in a 15-minute incident video narrated by the Sheriff’s Department. —Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024

In the end, Only God Was Above Us goes out with a sense of cautious optimism. —Jon Freeman, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2024

However, companies were cautious about adding employees, and the relevant sub-index has remained negative since August last year. —CNN, 1 Apr. 2024

Additionally, to avoid burns, be cautious when handling hot cleaning solutions or steam. —Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 26 Mar. 2024

Studios are, as a rule, cautious about ideas and elements in movies that could alienate audiences. —Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 28 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see caution entry 1

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cautious

• hyper-cautious

Kids Definition

cautious

adjective

cau·​tious ˈkȯ-shəs 

: marked by or given to caution

a cautious reply

cautiously adverb

cautiousness noun