cagey

Also cag·y

[key-jee]

adjective

cagier, cagiest 

1. cautious, wary, or shrewd.

   a cagey reply to the probing question.

   Synonyms: chary, leery, prudent, careful
   Antonyms: forthright, open

cagey

/ ˈkeɪdʒɪ /

adjective

1. informal,  not open or frank; cautious; wary

Other Word Forms

• cagily adverb
• caginess noun
• cageyness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cagey¹

An Americanism dating back to 1890–95; cage + -y ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of cagey¹

C20: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

Weaver’s Katharine, the villain of the piece who steals Tess’ ingenious business idea, is as over-the-top as she is psychologically and morally cagey.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The S&P people were cagey, but the woman from Moody’s was surprisingly frank.

Read more on Literature

But notice the party’s choice of nominees: Each was a cagey candidate with a centrist affect, whatever their records.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to overcommit in a cagey opening few rounds.

Read more on BBC

“Few contemporary writers have shown themselves to be quite as self-referential as Roth,” Mr. Zipperstein writes, “and few self-referential writers have managed, for so very long, to be quite so cagey.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• circumspect 
• crafty 
• secretive 
• shrewd 
• wily