WARY Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

wary

adjective

ˈwer-ē

Definition of wary next

as in cautious

having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble kept a wary eye out for signs of the enemy

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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 If there were reasons to be wary of the dance scene being dominated by the taste of one curator backed by one foreign luxury brand, there were more reasons to be grateful. —

Brian Seibert, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026 Investors appeared wary of the company’s plan to shell out $200 billion in capital expenditures this year, focused mainly on data centers. —

Alex Harring, CNBC, 6 Feb. 2026 These are not always easy choices to make, and anticoagulation experts like Allen are wary of creating a world where doctors are too scared to prescribe blood thinners, as that would be likely to lead to more strokes and even more preventable harm. —

David Cox, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026 Be wary of neglecting your personal life for your professional one! —

Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wary

Adjective

Be cautious about taking on new debt that assumes your current income is guaranteed.

— Matt Shumer, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
Connecticut education leaders are expressing cautious optimism as the state Department of Education tries its hand at course development.

— Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 11 Feb. 2026

Definition of cautious

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war (with)

wary

was

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“Wary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wary. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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Last Updated: 15 Feb 2026 - Updated example sentences

Synonyms of wary

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Synonyms of wary

adjective

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