circumspection
Wary, measured thinking
Circumspection is careful consideration of circumstances and consequences before acting.
The word suggests wariness—looking around (as the Latin roots imply) before committing to a course of action.
Someone exercising circumspection weighs risks and avoids rash decisions: The diplomat proceeded with circumspection, aware that any misstep could spark an international incident.
Sensitivity in speech
- tactfulnessSkill in sensitive situations
- finesseSubtle, deft handling
- delicacyRefined sensitivity or rarity
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
discretion · politeness · courtesy · propriety · decorum · judiciousness · soft-pedaling · fence-sitting
Good judgment from experience
- judiciousnessCareful, wise reasoning
- sagacityPenetrating mental acuity
- foresightAbility to anticipate futures
- discernmentKeen perception and judgment
levelheadedness · sensibleness · shrewdness · astuteness · discretion · sobriety · temperance · moderation
Active mental awareness
- watchfulnessCareful, sustained attention
- attentivenessConcentrated awareness of surroundings
- warinessCautious distrust
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
observation · heedfulness · guardedness · monitoring · scanning · on-guard · keen-eyed · sharp-eyed
Returned light or thought
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
- considerationCareful thought or compensation
- forethoughtPlanning before acting
- ponderingThinking deeply about something
weighing · analysis · evaluation · assessment · reasoning · thoughtfulness · calculation · planning
Exercising caution and attention
- waryGuardedly alert
- guardedWary and restrained
- watchfulCarefully attentive, observant
- hesitantSlow to act
tentative · leery · chary · gingerly · measured · calculated · risk-averse · hedging
Sense of unease about motives
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- doubtLack of firm belief
- warinessCautious distrust
- misgivingsFeelings of doubt
qualms · reservations · apprehension · unease · questioning · dubious · distrustful · incredulous
tact
Sensitivity in speech
- tactfulnessSkill in sensitive situations
- finesseSubtle, deft handling
- delicacyRefined sensitivity or rarity
sensitivity · discretion · politeness · courtesy · propriety · decorum · judiciousness · soft-pedaling · fence-sitting · noncommittal
wisdom
Good judgment from experience
- judiciousnessCareful, wise reasoning
- sagacityPenetrating mental acuity
- foresightAbility to anticipate futures
discernment · levelheadedness · sensibleness · shrewdness · astuteness · discretion · sobriety · temperance · moderation · self-restraint
alertness
Active mental awareness
- watchfulnessCareful, sustained attention
- attentivenessConcentrated awareness of surroundings
- warinessCautious distrust
awareness · observation · heedfulness · guardedness · monitoring · scanning · on-guard · keen-eyed · sharp-eyed · lookout
reflection
Returned light or thought
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
- considerationCareful thought or compensation
- forethoughtPlanning before acting
pondering · weighing · analysis · evaluation · assessment · reasoning · thoughtfulness · calculation · planning · premeditation
careful
Exercising caution and attention
hesitant · tentative · leery · chary · gingerly · measured · calculated · risk-averse · hedging · safeguarding
suspicion
Sense of unease about motives
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- doubtLack of firm belief
- warinessCautious distrust
misgivings · qualms · reservations · apprehension · unease · questioning · dubious · distrustful · incredulous · unconvinced
- carefulnessattention, attentiveness, care, carefulness, caution
- cautioncareful, be careful, cautious, caution, watch out
- prudencecaution, discretion, foresight, forethought, judiciousness
- self-controlself-control, restraint, willpower, composure, moderation
- warinesscaution, wariness, guardedness, vigilance, watchfulness
- judgmentgood judgment, sound judgment, discernment, prudence, judiciousness
circumspectionrecklessness
Careless disregard for danger
rashness · impulsiveness · carelessness · heedlessness · incaution
circumspectionthoughtlessness
Lack of careful consideration
inconsiderateness · inconsideration · imprudence · indiscretion · oversight
circumspectionhastiness
Excessive, careless speed
precipitousness · impetuosity · abruptness · suddenness · precipitance
inspect, prospect, inspection, inspector, circumstances, circumspect, prospective, introspection, retrospect