cautious
Careful before acting
Cautious means careful to avoid potential problems or dangers.
A cautious driver checks mirrors frequently.
A cautious investor avoids risky ventures.
The word suggests deliberate restraint—weighing consequences before acting rather than plunging ahead: She was cautious about making promises she couldn't keep.
Caution can be prudent or excessive depending on context.
Exercising caution and attention
- wiseShowing good judgment
- judiciousHaving sound assessment skills
- sensibleShowing good judgment
- circumspectCarefully considering consequences
deliberate · measured · thoughtful · conservative · provident · shrewd · strategic · calculated
Socially sensitive and careful
- diplomaticTactful and sensitive
- subtleNot immediately obvious
- reservedRestrained in manner
- unobtrusiveNot readily noticed
low-key · quiet · restrained · inconspicuous · private · confidential · delicate · sensitive
Inclined to distrust
- distrustfulLacking faith in others
- apprehensiveFearful of future events
- hesitantSlow to act
- guardedWary and restrained
leery · mistrustful · skeptical · doubtful · uneasy · cagey · chary · dubious
careful
Exercising caution and attention
circumspect · deliberate · measured · thoughtful · conservative · provident · shrewd · strategic · calculated · reasoned
tactful
Socially sensitive and careful
- diplomaticTactful and sensitive
- subtleNot immediately obvious
- reservedRestrained in manner
unobtrusive · low-key · quiet · restrained · inconspicuous · private · confidential · delicate · sensitive · considerate
suspicious
Inclined to distrust
- distrustfulLacking faith in others
- apprehensiveFearful of future events
- hesitantSlow to act
guarded · leery · mistrustful · skeptical · doubtful · uneasy · cagey · chary · dubious · tentative
alert
Warning or watchfulness
mindful · aware · guarded · prepared · heedful · scrutinizing · on-guard · defensive · protective · anticipatory
anxious
Troubled by uncertainty
scared · skittish · jumpy · tense · edgy · fidgety · risk-averse · shy · reticent · diffident
- cautioncareful, be careful, watch out, beware, wariness
- traitshonesty, ambitious, brave, calm, kindness
- street smartsstreet smarts, savvy, resourceful, resourcefulness, cunning
- playstylesaggressive, defensive, passive, casual, competitive
- risk tolerancerisk tolerance, risk appetite, risk averse, risk seeking, conservative
- hedginghedging, hedge, hedges, hedge bet, qualifier
cautiousbold
Courageous and daring
daring · adventurous · venturesome · adventuresome · audacious
- cautionary taleStory illustrating consequences
- throw caution to the windAct recklessly, disregarding consequences
- caution tapeStriped hazard boundary marker
- toss caution to the windDeliberately ignore potential dangers
- proceed with cautionContinue while staying vigilant
- err on the side of cautionPrefer safety over risk
caution, precaution, cautiously, incautious, cautioned, cautions, cautionary, precautions, cautioning