warily
Americanadverb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of warily
Explanation
When you do things warily, you're cautious and concerned. Behaving warily is like treating the situation with kid gloves. There are a lot of things in life that should be approached warily — like bear cubs, for example. (Actually, they shouldn't be approached at all). Delivering bad news is done warily. People drive warily on ice, and they walk warily on ice, too. When you're acting warily — in other words, being wary — you're worried about what could happen, so you're careful and you take precautions.
Vocabulary lists containing warily
List 5
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Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam
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The Dragonet Prophecy
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As Ean and I looked at each other warily, I couldn’t decide which was more ridiculous: that pet care could actually be this expensive or that we were considering paying the $800.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026
Once, diplomatic counterparts who controlled huge sums were regarded warily by U.S. diplomats.
From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026
As investors warily eye U.S. long-bond yields near 5%, another bout of fixed income angst could be about to rattle markets.
From MarketWatch ● May 6, 2026
Embassy staffers and dependents evacuating, airlines suspending service, eyes in Iran warily turning skyward for signs of an attack.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 28, 2026
I slipped Eddie’s journal into my backpack, then stretched and looked warily out the window.
From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
