careful

adjective

care·​ful ˈker-fəl 

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

a

: solicitous, anxious

b

: filling with care or solicitude

carefully

ˈker-f(ə-)lē 

adverb

carefulness

ˈker-fəl-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

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

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

What are some common hair conditioner mistakes? Be careful not to apply too much product to the end of your strands, don’t use conditioner on your scalp, and remember to rinse the product thoroughly after use, Puza says. —USA TODAY, 28 Apr. 2024

Goldberg is careful not to describe PopUp bagels as New York bagels. —Hannah Goldfield, The New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2024

Iran’s resolve to restore deterrence and bolster national morale took both the Israelis and the Americans by surprise, yet Iran was careful to telegraph the aerial attack well in advance. —Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2024

But a careful examination of the change shows that’s not what is depressing solar panel sales. —Severin Borenstein, The Mercury News, 26 Apr. 2024

If pollsters aren't careful, these biases can creep into all polls conducted using a single mode. —G. Elliott Morris, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2024

Artists are navigating the careful balance of honoring the past while creating art to last long into the future, hoping to reach older and newer generations alike. —Meghan Mahar, Billboard, 22 Apr. 2024

But in southeast Michigan, the study said a combination of increasing development and changing climate requires careful planning and management of resources, based both on scientific data and collaboration. —Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 20 Apr. 2024

The careful balance of environmental factors in wardrobe selection, however, comes secondary to the crown jewel of functionality: the all-purpose travel jacket. —Goth Shakira, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see care entry 1

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing careful

• (be) careful what you wish for

Kids Definition

careful

adjective

care·​ful ˈke(ə)r-fəl 

ˈka(ə)r-

1

: using care : watchful

a careful driver

2

: made, done, or said with care

a careful examination

carefully

-f(ə-)lē 

adverb

carefulness

-fəl-nəs 

noun