Definitions

careful

[kair-fuhl] / ˈkɛər fəl /

ADJECTIVE

cautious; painstaking

Synonyms

STRONGEST

accurate attentive choosy circumspect concerned conscientious deliberate discreet judicious leery meticulous mindful precise prudent rigorous scrupulous sober thorough thoughtful vigilant wary

STRONG

detail-oriented

WEAK

alert apprehensive assiduous chary conservative cool exacting fastidious finicky fussy going to great lengths guarded heedful observant particular playing safe prim protective provident punctilious regardful religious selfdisciplined shy solicitous solid

Antonyms

STRONGEST

careless false foolish heedless idiotic inaccurate inattentive incautious inconsiderate indiscreet inexact irrational lax loose negligent questionable rash reckless thoughtless uncareful uncaring unscrupulous unwise

WEAK

unconcerned

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.

I’m still not fully convinced that Soto-Martínez’s push is wise right now, but I like that he’s being careful.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

To Vogue, Sánchez Bezos recalled her first time walking the Met’s halls, admiring hundreds of years of careful curation and preservation, saying, “I remember standing in the galleries thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, somebody saved this.

From Salon • May 6, 2026

It claimed to “be more careful to give accurate, safe, non-alarmist information when questions touch on symptoms, medications, nutrition, or recovery.”

From Slate • May 6, 2026

If you do go ahead with the purchase, pay careful attention to your title deed.

From MarketWatch • May 5, 2026

Each door had names tacked on the front in careful calligraphy done by the RA.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

Vocabulary lists containing careful

"Earthquake"

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Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"

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Unit 9

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