cautious

adjective

cau·tious ˈkȯ-shəs

Synonyms of cautious next

: careful about avoiding danger or risk

cautious investors

cautious optimism

cautiously adverb

cautiousness noun

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The Federal Reserve is right to be cautious and see how all of these factors play out in 2025. —

Harry Holzer, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025 Local and state agencies are urging the public to be cautious as the Charlotte area prepares for likely snow and ice. —

Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 10 Jan. 2025 Bowles has similar schemes to take away hot throws in his blitz package, so Daniels must be cautious of throwing to hots in the middle of the field. —

Ted Nguyen, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025 The Fed can afford to be cautious because the job market has remained strong. —

Ben Casselman, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for cautious