1
as in cautious
having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble
careful drivers slow down on slick or icy roadways
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in meticulous
taking, showing, or involving great care and effort
that furniture maker was known to be a most careful worker, so his output was small
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of careful
The hamstring injury Mount suffered overextending his leg in the Manchester derby in December kept him out until March, and Amorim was careful to reintroduce him — and praised his diligence in returning to fitness.
—
Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 25 July 2025
Opt for a mild detergent or vinegar when cleaning, and be careful not to get any of the electrical components wet during the cleaning.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 24 July 2025
During the public meeting held in Silver Spring, Maryland, dental experts outlined the careful balance of getting the right amount of fluoride to their patients.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 24 July 2025
At this point, it's just suspended, but borrowers on the plan need to pay careful attention in the coming weeks to any developments.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for careful
Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 25 July 2025
Opt for a mild detergent or vinegar when cleaning, and be careful not to get any of the electrical components wet during the cleaning.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 24 July 2025
During the public meeting held in Silver Spring, Maryland, dental experts outlined the careful balance of getting the right amount of fluoride to their patients.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 24 July 2025
At this point, it's just suspended, but borrowers on the plan need to pay careful attention in the coming weeks to any developments.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for careful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for careful
Adjective
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Be cautious using public Wi-Fi Avoid logging into accounts on public Wi-Fi or always use a VPN.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
20 July 2025
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No, things aren’t all roses, but at least some cautious optimism is in order.—
Bruce Yandle,
Boston Herald,
18 July 2025
Adjective
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Though beefy humanoids like Boston Dynamics’ Atlas have been able to perform terrifyingly impressive feats of acrobatics for the better part of a decade, many of those feats were scripted and the result of meticulous coding and fine-tuning by human engineers.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
23 July 2025
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Their ‘Rare Handcrafts’ models showcase the delicate art of hand engraving under a binocular microscope, creating a newfound appreciation for the meticulous work of jewelry and watchmakers.—
Anna Haines,
AFAR Media,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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Judge, always wary of self-congratulation, downplayed his contributions.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
25 July 2025
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Those who did speak were wary of unintended consequences, particularly on special education or immigrant students.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
24 July 2025
Adjective
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New hires can't learn by example because there's no one to watch, and conscientious peers can't see when newcomers are struggling.—
David Meade,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
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Each one should be the result of a deliberate, conscientious decision by the only person elected to make it.—
Sreedhar Potarazu,
Baltimore Sun,
19 July 2025
Adjective
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The alert impacts regions ranging from the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula to the southernmost counties, including major cities such as Detroit, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Traverse City.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 July 2025
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Be alert to warning signs: Educate yourself about the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
13 July 2025
Adjective
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The two often send one another loving birthday messages on Instagram–Jones wrote one for Will in May.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
10 July 2025
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Over on her Instagram Stories, Watts gave Demna Gvasalia a loving farewell, as the show marked his last with Balenciaga after a 10-year run with the house as its creative director.—
Starr Bowenbank,
People.com,
9 July 2025
Adjective
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Although resilience often looks like luck or good character, the ability to prevent or reduce losses from any type of risk entails careful planning and diligent efforts.—
Louis Gritzo,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
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The group was not always diligent about following military directives.—
Asaf Elia-Shalev,
Sun Sentinel,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Careful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/careful. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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