wary
Americanadjective
-
watchful; being on one's guard against danger.
- Synonyms:
- prudent, circumspect, guarded, vigilant, alert
-
arising from or characterized by caution.
to give someone a wary look.
adjective
-
watchful, cautious, or alert
-
characterized by caution or watchfulness
Related Words
See careful.
Other Word Forms
- overwary adjective
- warily adverb
- wariness noun
Etymology
Origin of wary
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The 35-year-old striker, who has joined Qatari side Al‑Sailiya, says owners of English clubs were wary of signing him following his accident in December 2024, which left him with multiple leg fractures.
From BBC
Another major U.S. ally, Turkey, is also wary of having another conflict zone on its borders.
Importers that suddenly lower the declared value of goods can receive heavy scrutiny from customs officials wary of fraud.
Investors ought to be wary of developments in the financial sector, with problem loans increasingly a concern that could trigger a “proper flush in risk assets” next month.
From MarketWatch
Yet banks might still be wary of being too generous on rates to chase even well-heeled customers.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
