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 Jeff Hardcastle, a former demographer for the state of Nevada, says some state officials who manage their governments' records are wary of how the Trump administration is handling federal data. Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 4 June 2025 For reasons that may or may not have to do with a lifetime of daddy issues, Santi — with the wary blessing of his mother, Elena (Mariana Treviño) — agrees. Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2025 And be wary of unexpected phone calls, emails, or social media messages, as those could be phishing messages from cybercriminals who got hold of some basic contact information. Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 3 June 2025 Beijing's strategy offers lower-cost weapons with fewer strings than Western suppliers, appealing to governments wary of U.S. oversight. Amir Daftari john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for wary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wary
Adjective
  • Be extra cautious if recreating with sparks or flame.
    Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 June 2025
  • Unlike his predecessor Pope Francis, who often spoke off the cuff, Leo is more cautious and speaks from a prepared text.
    Joshua McElwee, USA Today, 15 June 2025
Adjective
  • Watch out for slippery roads: Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins.
    Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 7 June 2025
  • However, Kilmeade was careful to praise Musk’s efforts during his time in the Trump administration.
    Andrew Kirell, CNN Money, 6 June 2025
Adjective
  • There’s nothing wrong with using technology to meet immediate emotional needs, but leaders should stay alert to the longer-term tradeoff.
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • The advisory ranks Italy at Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution, which recommends travelers stay alert to possibly heightened risk.
    Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 3 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Wary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wary. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on wary

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