Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective wary contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of wary are cautious, chary, and circumspect. While all these words mean "prudently watchful and discreet in the face of danger or risk," wary emphasizes suspiciousness and alertness in watching for danger and cunning in escaping it.

keeps a wary eye on the competition

When would cautious be a good substitute for wary?

The meanings of cautious and wary largely overlap; however, cautious implies the exercise of forethought usually prompted by fear of danger.

a cautious driver

When might chary be a better fit than wary?

While in some cases nearly identical to wary, chary implies a cautious reluctance to give, act, or speak freely.

chary of signing papers without having read them first

In what contexts can circumspect take the place of wary?

In some situations, the words circumspect and wary are roughly equivalent. However, circumspect suggests less fear and stresses the surveying of all possible consequences before acting or deciding.

circumspect in his business dealings

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 wary Jeff Hardcastle, a former demographer for the state of Nevada, says some state officials who manage their governments' records are wary of how the Trump administration is handling federal data. Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 4 June 2025 For reasons that may or may not have to do with a lifetime of daddy issues, Santi — with the wary blessing of his mother, Elena (Mariana Treviño) — agrees. Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2025 And be wary of unexpected phone calls, emails, or social media messages, as those could be phishing messages from cybercriminals who got hold of some basic contact information. Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 3 June 2025 Beijing's strategy offers lower-cost weapons with fewer strings than Western suppliers, appealing to governments wary of U.S. oversight. Amir Daftari john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for wary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wary
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
  • Watch out for slippery roads: Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins.
    Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 7 June 2025
  • But as the Trump administration has rolled out immigration policies targeting Venezuelans, Haitians and Cubans, GOP officials in Miami have had to draw a careful balance between supporting the White House and the many immigrants in their district affected by Trump’s immigration agenda.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025
Adjective
  • Find the right time: Consider rescheduling strenuous activities to early morning or evening if possible. Be alert to warning signs: Educate yourself about the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 28 May 2025
  • But her watchful, alert bearing imbues the character with a sort of unspoken backstory.
    Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Wary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wary. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on wary

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