wary

adjective

ˈwer-ē How to pronounce wary (audio)
Definition of warynext
as in cautious
having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble kept a wary eye out for signs of the enemy

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 No wonder many women are still wary of financial dependence! —Sigal Samuel, Vox, 6 Apr. 2025 The Bruins would have been wary of putting Poitras, for example, into this kind of situation. —Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025 Some firms, wary of the potential fallout, have quietly distanced themselves from certain diversity programs or taken a more neutral stance in high-profile cases. —Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025 Be wary of positions that don’t require interviews or specific qualifications. —Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wary
  1. cautious
  2. careful
  3. alert
Adjective
  • Dawn Staley, who’s undefeated in NCAA finals, is cautious in taking that fact into consideration.
    — Roberta F. Rodrigues, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Be cautious about fertilizing, as nitrogen can interfere with blooming.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of cautious
Adjective
  • Although careful planning is essential, action generates momentum.
    — Chris Gallagher, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
  • 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
Definition of careful
Adjective
  • In these cases, being alert to others’ moods became a survival strategy.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The Suncoast region is seeing particularly high alert levels.
    — Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of alert

Browse Nearby Words

war (with)
wary
was
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Cite this Entry

“Wary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wary. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of wary for Spanish Speakers

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