cautious

adjective

ˈkȯ-shəs How to pronounce cautious (audio)
Definition of cautiousnext
as in careful
having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble a cautious approach to everyday living

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective cautious contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of cautious are chary, circumspect, and wary. While all these words 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

When is it sensible to use chary instead of cautious?

The synonyms chary and cautious are sometimes interchangeable, but chary implies a cautious reluctance to give, act, or speak freely.

chary of signing papers without having read them first

When can circumspect be used instead of cautious?

While the synonyms circumspect and cautious are close in meaning, circumspect suggests less fear and stresses the surveying of all possible consequences before acting or deciding.

circumspect in his business dealings

Where would wary be a reasonable alternative to cautious?

Although the words wary and cautious have much in common, wary emphasizes suspiciousness and alertness in watching for danger and cunning in escaping it.

keeps a wary eye on the competition

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of cautious In particular, people with diabetes or blood sugar issues should be cautious about drinking cortisol cocktails because the fruit juices and coconut water could cause a spike in blood sugar, Malone says. —Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 17 July 2025 Guidance: Slight Trim, But Growth Still Intact Management slightly decreased full-year RevPAR guidance to 1–3%, reflecting a more cautious outlook on global travel trends. —Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025 Be cautious when shopping on Amazon or other sites that may sell counterfeit products. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 16 July 2025 Teams tend to be especially cautious with injuries this time of year. —Garrett Chorpenning, New York Times, 9 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for cautious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cautious
  1. careful
  2. wary
  3. alert
Adjective
  • 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
  • The trailer is careful to showcase the film’s scale – fighter planes soar, speedboats roar, trains careen, and cities flash by in a blur – while keeping plot details tantalizingly out of reach.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 July 2025
Definition of careful
Adjective
  • Judge, always wary of self-congratulation, downplayed his contributions.
    — Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 25 July 2025
  • 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
Definition of wary
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of alert

Browse Nearby Words

cautions
cautious
cautiously
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cautious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cautious. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of cautious for Spanish Speakers

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