as in timid
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Recent Examples of overcautious
Beyond its rejection of militia involvement, the United States has also been criticized for overcautious use of air strikes and for its slow and insufficient delivery of military equipment to Iraqi armed forces.
—
Nussaibah Younis, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2015
In this light, district actions reflect concern for the future — which supporters see as prudent and critics as overcautious.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2024
And yet, since the spring of 2021, pundits have mocked people who continue to think this way for being irrational and overcautious, and government officials have consistently framed COVID as a matter of personal responsibility.
—Ed Yong, The Atlantic, 30 Sep. 2022
Or, at least, overcautious, overwatchful young men and women.
—Han Ong, The New Yorker, 9 Jan. 2023
Be overcautious and a perfectly clear day goes to waste; be too bold and put the performers, audience and equipment at risk.
—Abby Carney, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2021
Some parents said the new rules were overcautious and counterproductive.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2021
But Fauci has turned into the perpetually pessimistic, overcautious, position-shifting, administration-pleasing face of the pandemic recovery.
—The Editors, National Review, 13 Apr. 2021
The risk of a dangerous vaccine reaction could be very real, if also very rare—and major European vaccine authorities have not, in fact, been overcautious, political, or innumerate in responding to this possibility.
—Hilda Bastian, The Atlantic, 30 Mar. 2021
Nussaibah Younis, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2015
In this light, district actions reflect concern for the future — which supporters see as prudent and critics as overcautious.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2024
And yet, since the spring of 2021, pundits have mocked people who continue to think this way for being irrational and overcautious, and government officials have consistently framed COVID as a matter of personal responsibility.
—Ed Yong, The Atlantic, 30 Sep. 2022
Or, at least, overcautious, overwatchful young men and women.
—Han Ong, The New Yorker, 9 Jan. 2023
Be overcautious and a perfectly clear day goes to waste; be too bold and put the performers, audience and equipment at risk.
—Abby Carney, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2021
Some parents said the new rules were overcautious and counterproductive.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2021
But Fauci has turned into the perpetually pessimistic, overcautious, position-shifting, administration-pleasing face of the pandemic recovery.
—The Editors, National Review, 13 Apr. 2021
The risk of a dangerous vaccine reaction could be very real, if also very rare—and major European vaccine authorities have not, in fact, been overcautious, political, or innumerate in responding to this possibility.
—Hilda Bastian, The Atlantic, 30 Mar. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overcautious
Adjective
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The confident smile the until then timid Giulio wears on his face as a result is equally cliched.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
25 May 2025
-
The slope of that ramp makes Pike’s Peak look timid.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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The Chiefs, who have a history of being cautious with their rookies during summer practices, nonetheless had Simmons participate in non-team drills during rookie minicamp last month.—
Jesse Newell,
Kansas City Star,
3 June 2025
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Here are some tips to choose high-quality olive oil: Be cautious with olive oils that bear significantly lower prices.—
Sohaib Imtiaz,
Verywell Health,
2 June 2025
Adjective
-
The European Union statement was slightly more circumspect.—
Stephen Castle,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
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Most of the researchers were more circumspect, but Richards—an infectiously cheerful clinical psychologist who is now in his eighties—was happy to entertain the possibility.—
Michael Pollan,
New Yorker,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overcautious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overcautious. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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