variants
or less commonly leary
: suspicious, wary
—often used with of
leery of strangers
She seemed a little leery of the proposal.
Examples of leery in a Sentence
They were leery of their neighbors.
Recent Examples on the Web
Flush with promise: After decades of trying to court leery American consumers, high-tech Japanese toilet makers are finally seeing a shift.
—
Natasha Frost, New York Times, 30 May 2025
The Republican governor has been leery of the more visually violent execution method.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 6 Mar. 2025
In fact, Illinois lawmakers — long leery of being secretly recorded — have prohibited state and local law enforcement from wiretapping the phones of politicians suspected of corruption, as federal investigators are allowed to do.
—Megan Crepeau, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2025
Besides the call for deeper cuts, some Republican senators are leery of the House push to phase out tax credits for big energy projects in their states.
—Carl Hulse, New York Times, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for leery
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Natasha Frost, New York Times, 30 May 2025
The Republican governor has been leery of the more visually violent execution method.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 6 Mar. 2025
In fact, Illinois lawmakers — long leery of being secretly recorded — have prohibited state and local law enforcement from wiretapping the phones of politicians suspected of corruption, as federal investigators are allowed to do.
—Megan Crepeau, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2025
Besides the call for deeper cuts, some Republican senators are leery of the House push to phase out tax credits for big energy projects in their states.
—Carl Hulse, New York Times, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for leery
Cite this Entry
“Leery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leery. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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leery
adjective
: suspicious sense 2, wary
leery of strangers
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