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careful

[ kair-fuhl ]
/ ˈkɛər fəl /
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See synonyms for: careful / carefully / carefulness on Thesaurus.com
adjective
cautious in one's actions: Be careful when you cross the street.
taking pains in one's work; exact; thorough: a careful typist.
(of things) done or performed with accuracy or caution: careful research.
solicitously mindful (usually followed by of, about, or in): careful of the rights of others;careful about one's behavior;careful in speech.
Archaic.
  1. full of anxiety or care; troubled.
  2. causing or attended with anxiety: a careful day.
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Origin of careful

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

synonym study for careful

1. 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. 2, 3. See painstaking.

OTHER WORDS FROM careful

care·ful·ly, adverbcare·ful·ness, nounqua·si-care·ful, adjectiveul·tra·care·ful, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to careful

accurate, attentive, choosy, circumspect, concerned, conscientious, deliberate, discreet, judicious, leery, meticulous, mindful, precise, prudent, rigorous, scrupulous, sober, thorough, thoughtful, vigilant

How to use careful in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for careful

careful
/ (ˈkɛəfʊl) /
adjective
cautious in attitude or action; prudent
painstaking in one's work; thoroughhe wrote very careful script
(usually postpositive; foll by of, in, or about) solicitous; protectivecareful of one's reputation
archaic full of care; anxious
British mean or miserly

Derived forms of careful

carefully, adverbcarefulness, noun
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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