waryadjective
uk/ˈweə.ri/us/ˈwer.i/C2 not completely trusting or certain about something or someone:
I'm a little wary of/about giving people my address when I don't know them very well.
More examples
- All authors need to be wary of inadvertent copying of other people's ideas.
- The legal system is full of snares for those who are not wary.
- Tourists should be wary, as pickpockets are known to operate in this area.
- Buyers should be wary of hidden costs when purchasing their holiday.
- The teacher was wary of giving his pupils too much information at once.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Cautious and vigilant
- askance
- attentive
- belt and braces idiom
- better safe than sorry idiom
- better the devil you know (than the devil you don't) idiom
- discreet
- due diligence
- gingerly
- guarded
- intent
- minutely
- narrowly
- once
- once bitten, twice shy idiom
- precise
- scrupulous
- sedulous
- slowly
- vigilance
- vigilant
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Doubt & ambivalence
warily
adverb uk/ˈweə.rəl.i/us/ˈwer.əl.i/
She eyed the dog warily, afraid it might jump.
wariness
noun [ U ] uk/ˈweə.ri.nəs/us/ˈwer.i.nəs/