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

That atmosphere makes Europe far more cautious over a trade war with China, or even with India. —Laura Kelly, The Hill, 20 Sep. 2025

Strength of the Balance Sheet Vale upholds a relatively cautious balance sheet with net debt nearing $10–11 billion, which is modest in relation to EBITDA. —Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025

Fans and experts noted that Jax was cautious with Stratton during the post-fight segment. —Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025

Someone with a history of chronic kidney disease or end-stage renal disease may need to be cautious when consuming watermelon. —Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Health, 18 Sep. 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