as in wary
having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble
chary investors who weren't burned by the dot-com bust
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Recent Examples of chary
A lot of people were mildly chary of its prospects.
—
The Economist, 13 Mar. 2021
He’s not as guarded or chary as he was immersed in the Boston Baseball Experience, where one wrong step or word can spark furor.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 18 July 2022
Knox was a bit chary on specifics, but no athlete allows that many injections without asking questions.
—Richard A. Lovett, Outside Online, 1 Sep. 2021
Beautiful is a strong word, and artists, critics and scholars are chary of it.
—Washington Post, 3 Nov. 2021
With a writer so chary of detail, the reader rushes to fill in.
—Caleb Crain, The Atlantic, 10 Aug. 2021
That tone is most obvious in the author’s chary regard of his icon.
—John Semley, The New Republic, 26 May 2021
Evangelical Christians, traditionally chary of getting involved in partisan politics.
—Rick Perlstein, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Aug. 2020
The autocratic Chinese government is also chary of any display of mass mobilization, even benign ones like Pride.
—Charlie Campbell / Shanghai, Time, 15 June 2018
The Economist, 13 Mar. 2021
He’s not as guarded or chary as he was immersed in the Boston Baseball Experience, where one wrong step or word can spark furor.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 18 July 2022
Knox was a bit chary on specifics, but no athlete allows that many injections without asking questions.
—Richard A. Lovett, Outside Online, 1 Sep. 2021
Beautiful is a strong word, and artists, critics and scholars are chary of it.
—Washington Post, 3 Nov. 2021
With a writer so chary of detail, the reader rushes to fill in.
—Caleb Crain, The Atlantic, 10 Aug. 2021
That tone is most obvious in the author’s chary regard of his icon.
—John Semley, The New Republic, 26 May 2021
Evangelical Christians, traditionally chary of getting involved in partisan politics.
—Rick Perlstein, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Aug. 2020
The autocratic Chinese government is also chary of any display of mass mobilization, even benign ones like Pride.
—Charlie Campbell / Shanghai, Time, 15 June 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chary
Adjective
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Subject to partisan litmus tests, military leaders might be wary of offering advice that contradicts the administration’s priorities.—
Risa Brooks,
Foreign Affairs,
8 Apr. 2025
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That might mean that a recession caused by the Trump administration's tariff policy would actually drive adoption of artificial intelligence by companies that have so far been wary of the tech.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Dawn Staley, who’s undefeated in NCAA finals, is cautious in taking that fact into consideration.—
Roberta F. Rodrigues,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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Be cautious about fertilizing, as nitrogen can interfere with blooming.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Although careful planning is essential, action generates momentum.—
Chris Gallagher,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2025
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Overall, Coney Barrett took a very careful route, avoiding the more strident criticism of the Trump administration while siding with the liberals in criticizing the Supreme Court majority for agreeing to take the case.—
Sean O'Driscoll,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chary. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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