leery

¹

Sometimes lear·y

[leer-ee]

adjective

leerier, leeriest 

1. wary; suspicious (usually followed byof ).

   I'm leery of his financial advice.

2. Archaic.,  knowing; alert.

leery

²

[leer-ee]

adjective

leerier, leeriest 

1. leer.

leery

/ ˈlɪərɪ /

adjective

1. dialect,  knowing or sly

2. slang,  (foll by of) suspicious or wary

3. slang,  rowdy or boisterous

Other Word Forms

• leerily adverb
• leeriness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of leery¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; leer ¹ + -y ¹

Origin of leery²

leer ² + -y ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of leery¹

C18: perhaps from obsolete sense (to look askance) of _leer

Example Sentences

MarketWatch asked readers to briefly describe how they feel about the economy; responses included “leery” and “confused.”

Read more on MarketWatch

Some advocates, however, are leery of relying on technology and punitive fines that can continue historical harms, particularly for communities of color.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Republicans are more than fine with cruelty to humans, but apparently even they are leery of trying to elect a puppy killer.

Read more on Salon

So, while flipping Congress to the Democrats would revive the possibility of checks and balances, I’m leery of putting too many of my hopes into next year’s midterm elections.

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Historically, Mennonites faced persecution in other countries, making them leery of interacting with authorities, Holbrooks said.

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Related Words

• careful 
• cautious 
• distrustful 
• dubious 
• skeptical 
• uncertain 
• unsure 
• wary