Synonyms

cautious

American

[kaw-shuhs] / ˈkɔ ʃəs /

adjective

showing, using, or characterized by alertness and prudence in a hazardous or uncertain situation; careful or wary.

Be cautious about clicking on links, as they can often introduce harmful viruses to your computer.
He offered a measured and cautious interpretation of the study’s results.

Synonyms:

vigilant, watchful, circumspect, chary, wary, guarded, prudent

cautious British

/ ˈkɔːʃəs /

adjective

showing or having caution; wary; prudent

"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

Usage

What does cautious mean? Cautious describes using, showing, or characterized by caution, which means a wariness in a dangerous situation, as in Vikram was a cautious man who never jumped straight into things. Cautious is often used to describe the behavior of a person who is concerned about impending danger or possible misfortune. If you are cautious, you are showing care or hesitation before taking an action.Cautious is also used in warnings, as in You should be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true. The adverb form of cautious is cautiously, as in Shontel cautiously approached the rickety bridge. The noun form of cautious is cautiousness, as in They reacted with cautiousness to the suspicious man’s generosity. Example: It is a good idea to be cautious when signing contracts and consider your options first.

Related Words

See careful.

Other Word Forms

cautiously adverb
cautiousness noun
hypercautious adjective
hypercautiousness noun
supercautious adjective
ultracautious adjective
ultracautiousness noun
uncautious adjective
uncautiousness noun

Etymology

Origin of cautious

First recorded in 1630–40; cauti(on) + -ous

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.

Bottom line: Investors are more cautious about the federal deficit further out.

From Barron's

Rizzuto also noted that the growing popularity of defensive plays can suggest Wall Street is growing more cautious about the road ahead.

From The Wall Street Journal

But they were cautious when it came to the King and the Royal Family.

From BBC

Saturday's summit declaration struck a cautious tone on AI safety risks, from misinformation and surveillance to fears of the creation of devastating new pathogens.

From Barron's

Modest to a fault, “Midwinter Break” seems to float like something cautious and wishful, hoping along with the audience that this union’s individual strains will fall into harmony once more.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023