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 The story reported that, wary of potential consequences for employment in California, Newsom had encouraged Bonta to find a solution out of court. — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2026 That fear comes from people who want a cure, but are also wary about what can happen when administrative systems move faster than common sense. — Jeff Berry, STAT, 21 Aug. 2026 Throw a Stanley Cup-winning netminder into the mix, and suddenly the outlook is much rosier, if still wary. — Janson Duench, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 And that doesn’t just go for undocumented students; Chang said students with legal residence are also wary of going to school when ICE is in the neighborhood. — Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wary
  1. cautious
  2. careful
  3. alert
Adjective
  • Another reason to be cautious about relying on AI is that crisis communications can pose critical legal risks for companies.
    — Edward Segal, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Beijing is a source of crucial economic support for Iran but has walked a cautious diplomatic line amid the US-Iran war, keeping communications open with players on both sides.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of cautious
Adjective
  • Without careful planning to reduce the constellations’ brightness, the team found that, in the most extreme case, the satellites could outnumber visible stars by a factor of 100.
    — Arielle Frommer, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Maneuvering in tight spaces requires careful judgment of each individual case — and not just about which body part is least likely to cause offense when brought into close proximity to a fellow diner.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of careful
Adjective
  • Ukraine’s neighbors are on alert Russia’s relentless onslaught has spooked other European countries, especially those bordering Ukraine, which fear spreading attacks from Moscow.
    — Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • As the two countries become increasingly intertwined, investors need to be more alert to disruptions in Japan's bond and equity markets, which could quickly ripple across global markets.
    — Justin Zacks, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026
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 25 Aug. 2026.

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