chary

[chair-ee]

adjective

charier, chariest 

1. cautious or careful; wary.

   He was chary of investing in oil wells.

   Synonyms: circumspect
   Antonyms: trustful

2. shy; timid.

   Antonyms: confident

3. fastidious; choosy.

   She is excessively chary about her friends.

   Antonyms: uncritical

4. sparing (often followed byof ).

   chary of his praise.

   Synonyms: frugal
   Antonyms: lavish

chary

/ ˈtʃɛərɪ /

adjective

1. wary; careful

2. choosy; finicky

3. shy

4. sparing; mean

Other Word Forms

• charily adverb
• unchary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chary¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English cearig sorrowful ( c ( e ) ar ( u ) care + -ig -y ¹ ); cognate with Old Saxon karag, Old High German karag ( German karg scanty, paltry)

Word History and Origins

Origin of chary¹

Old English cearig; related to caru _care , Old High German charag sorrowful

Example Sentences

Even if she wanted to pursue an exemption, the Lord Advocate would be chary of inciting the home secretary's ire.

Read more on BBC

Instead, “West Side Story” languished when it was first released, its core audience of older filmgoers still chary of venturing into theaters.

Read more on Washington Post

Beautiful is a strong word, and artists, critics and scholars are chary of it.

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However, I recognize that many people are likely to be chary of returning to public transport for a while, and Beltway expansion may be necessary as a stopgap.

Read more on Washington Post

That was a movie which really couldn’t be made now; people are understandably chary of presenting children in such adult and rather sexualised situations.

Read more on The Guardian