unwary

[uhn-wair-ee]

adjective

unwarier, unwariest 

1. not wary; not cautious or watchful, as against danger or misfortune.

   Synonyms: heedless, rash, indiscreet, incautious
   Antonyms: cautious, careful

unwary

/ ʌnˈwɛərɪ /

adjective

1. lacking caution or prudence; not vigilant or careful

Other Word Forms

• unwariness noun
• unwarily adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of unwary¹

First recorded in 1570–80; un- ¹ + wary

Example Sentences

The golf stories are narrated by the “oldest member” of an upper-class golf club who buttonholes unwary younger members to regale them with his memories of golfers he has known.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Employment data bristle with pitfalls for the unwary, even among experienced economists such as Ohanian.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Untethered to any fundamental values, these markets would be exceptionally easy to manipulate and hard to police, further endangering unwary investors.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Predators and poisonous fungi threaten the unwary, but these hirsute hillocks are mostly a danger to themselves — as the alpha will learn when he seems bent on visiting his lust on a hungry mountain lion.

Read more on New York Times

By placing their faith in ivermectin instead of treatments known to be effective against COVID, unwary consumers were only harming themselves.

Read more on Los Angeles Times