: careful about avoiding danger or risk
cautious investors
cautious optimism
cautiously
adverb
cautiousness
noun
Examples of cautious in a Sentence
Any cautious tourist will guard her passport.
You cannot be overly cautious when you're driving in snow.
He answered the question with a cautious reply.
Recent Examples on the Web
Blooms carry quiet meaning—some joyful, some cautious, some dripping with love, some signaling emotional withdrawal.
—
Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Feb. 2026
Be cautious of ice accumulating on power lines or tree branches, which can lead to snapping and falling hazards.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
The report puts a downbeat end to an otherwise solid year for shopping activity, with higher-end consumers spending briskly through much of 2025, though those on the lower end of the income spectrum were more cautious.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 10 Feb. 2026
Home developers also have become more cautious about investing in large residential projects, said Weaver, who sells with Silvercreek Realty Group in Meridian.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cautious
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Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Feb. 2026
Be cautious of ice accumulating on power lines or tree branches, which can lead to snapping and falling hazards.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
The report puts a downbeat end to an otherwise solid year for shopping activity, with higher-end consumers spending briskly through much of 2025, though those on the lower end of the income spectrum were more cautious.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 10 Feb. 2026
Home developers also have become more cautious about investing in large residential projects, said Weaver, who sells with Silvercreek Realty Group in Meridian.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cautious
Cite this Entry
“Cautious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cautious. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cautious
adjective
cau·tious
ˈkȯ-shəs 
: marked by or given to caution
a cautious reply
cautiously
adverb
cautiousness
noun
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