unwary

[ uhn-wair-ee ]

adjective

, un·war·i·er, un·war·i·est.

1. not wary; not cautious or watchful, as against danger or misfortune.

   Synonyms: heedless, rash, indiscreet, incautious

   Antonyms: cautious, careful

unwary

/ ʌnˈwɛərɪ /

adjective

1. lacking caution or prudence; not vigilant or careful

Derived Forms

• unˈwariness, noun
• unˈwarily, adverb

Other Words From

• un·wari·ly adverb
• un·wari·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unwary¹

First recorded in 1570–80; un- ¹ + wary

Example Sentences

Along the murky bottom of the Amazon River, serpentine fish called electric eels scour the gloom for unwary frogs or other small prey.

From Quanta Magazine

Ravenloft was a gothic horror plane that trapped the unwary residents of other worlds, forcing them to reside in lands governed by the wicked Darklords, who were just as much a prisoner as their captives.

From TechCrunch

During these encounters, bigger, more dominant grizzlies sometimes kill younger bears (and unwary humans).

From The Daily Beast

Some to protect the unwary reader, and some to protect the author.

From The Daily Beast

What if we had abandoned the charade, and revealed ourselves to our unwary allies?

From The Daily Beast

Rather striking is the tendency of old squamous cells to retain the red stain, and fragments of such cells may mislead the unwary.

From Project Gutenberg

At the upper part of the runway he had built a few steps, wherewith to lure the unwary far enough down to insure a fatal descent.

From Project Gutenberg

You may laugh if you like, but you should remember how ready he is to slip away with the unwary souls of people who laugh at him.

From Project Gutenberg

The future is quite enough hampered with the past, without setting anticipatory traps and springes for unwary feet.

From Project Gutenberg

But woe to the unwary traveller who trusts himself in this dormitory!

From Project Gutenberg