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Showing results for overcautious. Search instead for over-cautions.
Synonyms

overcautious

American  
[oh-ver-kaw-shuhs] / ˈoʊ vərˈkɔ ʃəs /

adjective

  1. excessively or unnecessarily cautious.

    Sometimes it doesn't pay to be overcautious in business.


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of overcautious

First recorded in 1700–10; over- + cautious

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.

See Examples For:

The collective impact of all of this neurotic, overcautious hand-wringing was to communicate indifference to the voters.

From Slate Jan. 6, 2025

But Alan Rusbridger, who sits on Meta's Oversight Board, says the industry has been "overcautious" in its moderation.

From BBC May 31, 2023

Be overcautious and a perfectly clear day goes to waste; be too bold and put the performers, audience and equipment at risk.

From New York Times Aug. 4, 2021

This asymmetrical pressure has led to a kind of overcautious policymaking that too often ends with more data collection than action.

From Washington Post Jul. 2, 2020

Kendra should have been captured as well, except she had been so overcautious since arriving at Fablehaven that she was still apparently shielded by the full power of the treaty.

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull

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