Dictionary.com
definitions

overcautious

[oh-ver-kaw-shuh s]
See more synonyms for overcautious on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. excessively or unnecessarily cautious: Sometimes it doesn't pay to be overcautious in business.

Origin of overcautious

First recorded in 1700–10; over- + cautious
Related formso·ver·cau·tious·ly, adverbo·ver·cau·tious·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for overcautious

cautious, reserved, restrained, circumspect, calculating, attentive, cagey, canny, careful, chary, discreet, gingerly, leery, noncommittal, prudent, reticent, safe, vigilant, wary, watchful

Examples from the Web for overcautious

Historical Examples of overcautious

  • I may be overcautious, but I much prefer a carriage to myself.

  • An overcautious lawyer-like captiousness of spirit in such matters will help no cause and serve no good purpose.

    Creation and Its Records

    B.H. Baden-Powell

  • The glory that might have been so easily won was placed beyond my reach by this overcautious imbecile.

  • A hysteric fear of possible loss, an unreasonable distrust of banks and bankers, keeps the overcautious away from the market.

  • You are right in questioning us, for under such situations a soldier had best be overcautious than too credulous.