gingerly

[jin-jer-lee]

adverb

1. with great care or caution; warily.

   Synonyms: prudently, carefully, cautiously

adjective

1. cautious, careful, or wary.

gingerly

/ ˈdʒɪndʒəlɪ /

adverb

1. in a cautious, reluctant, or timid manner

adjective

1. cautious, reluctant, or timid

Other Word Forms

• gingerliness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of gingerly¹

First recorded in 1510–20; ginger-, perhaps from Middle French gensor, genzor “delicate, pretty” (positive use of comparative of gent “high-born, noble,” also “beautiful, shapely,” from Latin genitus “begotten”; genital ) + -ly

Word History and Origins

Origin of gingerly¹

C16: perhaps from Old French gensor dainty, from gent of noble birth; see _gentle

Example Sentences

“Sunk in tar pit,” he declared, gingerly backing out of the puddle.

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For now, executives seem to be approaching gingerly.

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The beauty of the film is that it is from the perspective of a family, two parents and two children, gingerly wading through the past and picking up keepsakes to bring.

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“The first time it happened, we were really young,” Key said, gingerly grasping a spoon with his heavily tattooed hand while stirring a cup of hot tea.

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Nacua got up gingerly in apparent pain, and then took a few steps and went back to the ground.

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Related Words

• cautiously 
• delicately 
• discreetly 
• hesitantly www.thesaurus.com
• reluctantly 
• safely 
• timidly www.thesaurus.com
• warily