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View synonyms for careful

careful

[ kair-fuhl ]

adjective

  1. cautious in one's actions:

    Be careful when you cross the street.

    Synonyms: circumspect, chary, guarded, watchful

    Antonyms: careless

  2. taking pains in one's work; exact; thorough:

    a careful typist.

    Synonyms: scrupulous, meticulous

    Antonyms: careless

  3. (of things) done or performed with accuracy or caution:

    careful research.

    Synonyms: rigorous

    Antonyms: careless

  4. solicitously mindful (usually followed by of, about, or in ):

    careful of the rights of others;

    careful about one's behavior;

    careful in speech.

    Synonyms: regardful, heedful, attentive, solicitous, concerned, thoughtful

    Antonyms: careless

  5. Archaic.
    1. full of anxiety or care; troubled.
    2. causing or attended with anxiety:

      a careful day.



careful

/ ˈkɛəfʊl /

adjective

  1. cautious in attitude or action; prudent
  2. painstaking in one's work; thorough

    he wrote very careful script

  3. usually postpositive; foll by of, in, or about solicitous; protective

    careful of one's reputation

  4. archaic.
    full of care; anxious
  5. mean or miserly
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Derived Forms

  • ˈcarefully, adverb
  • ˈcarefulness, noun
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Other Words From

  • care·ful·ly adverb
  • care·ful·ness noun
  • qua·si-care·ful adjective
  • ul·tra·care·ful adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of careful1

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English carful, cearful; care, -ful
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Synonym Study

Careful, cautious, discreet, wary imply a watchful guarding against something. Careful implies guarding against mistakes, by paying strict and close attention to details, and, often, trying to use good judgment: He was careful to distinguish between them. Cautious implies a fear of some unfavorable situation and investigation before coming to conclusions: cautious about investments. Discreet implies being prudent in speech and action and being trustworthy as a confidant: discreet in manner, in keeping secrets. Wary implies a vigilant lookout for a danger suspected or feared: wary of polite strangers. See painstaking.
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Example Sentences

We must be careful about relying on prosecution and the criminal justice system for deterrence.

From Vox

After I completed a careful audit, and with verification of my findings from Deputy District Attorney Robert Hickey, there were four names duplicated, for an actual total of 328.

There was only one catch—the land was directly adjacent to a cabin, and I had been warned by park rangers to be careful about trespassing.

Be careful as some CTV ad solutions will say they offer CTV inventory, but will actually mix in other video inventory that’s served on devices other than TV.

If we’re not careful, we could wind up codifying AI’s historic biases into guidelines that warp the technology for generations to come.

“Cultures” Versus “White Girls” As you can probably sense from my scare quotes, you can never be too careful these days.

He had talked to her earlier in the day, him saying, “Baby, be careful.”

Would he have been careful enough to destroy the odd pieces of jute you've left so messily about?

But the president and secretary need to be very careful here.

Thinking of longer journeys to Mars or an asteroid would require careful measurement of conditions.

Madame Ratignolle, more careful of her complexion, had twined a gauze veil about her head.

As a rule, however, even in the case of extreme varieties, a careful examination of the specimen will enable it to be identified.

Captains Spotstroke and Pool were equally careful; the rest of those present drank freely.

The question of branches of federal reserve banks has received careful attention during the past year.

It would make everyone careful, of course, but I fail to see any grievance in that.

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