Definitions

cautious

[kaw-shuhs] / ˈkɔ ʃəs /

ADJECTIVE

careful, guarded

Synonyms

STRONGEST

circumspect discreet judicious leery prudent tentative vigilant wary watchful

STRONG

alert safe

WEAK

all ears cagey calculating chary considerate forethoughtful gingerly hedging one's bets heedful keeping on one's toes on the lookout playing it cool playing safe politic provident pussyfoot shrewd taking it easy taking it slow thinking twice walking on eggs watching one's step watching out with one's eyes peeled

Antonyms

STRONGEST

careless certain foolish inattentive incautious indiscreet negligent rash reckless sure thoughtless uncareful unwise

WEAK

hasty heedless imprudent unguarded unobservant

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.

Altmann is now urging a shift to a short-term tactically cautious view on U.S. stocks, he told a Barclays podcast on Tuesday.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026

—The dollar fell slightly as investors turned cautious ahead of U.S. inflation data.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

That positivity will still amount to cautious optimism for most of the Tartan Army.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

However, the Wall Street consensus on Intel stock remains cautious.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

And I explained that I was fine, just trying to be careful, just trying to be cautious with my knee, and also my fingers were cold, so that was enough clam digging for me.

From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day

Vocabulary lists containing cautious

Legend

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

"Scary Tales," Vocabulary from the essay

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

"The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Raven"

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!