unwariness
Lack of caution
Unwariness is the state of not being alert to potential danger or deception.
Someone showing unwariness fails to exercise proper caution, leaving themselves vulnerable to harm, trickery, or unpleasant surprises.
His unwariness around strangers eventually cost him dearly.
The word often carries a tone of mild reproach, suggesting the person should have known better than to let their guard down.
Inattention causing mistakes
- heedlessnessFailure to notice danger
- negligenceFailure to exercise care
- obliviousnessLack of awareness
- unmindfulnessLack of conscious attention
distraction · oversight · disregard · laxity · inattentiveness · absentmindedness · remissness · slackness
Ease of being deceived
- credulityUncritical acceptance of claims
- trustfulnessReadiness to believe others
- ingenuousnessInnocent frankness, without cunning
- innocenceFreedom from wrongdoing
overconfidence · blind faith · unworldliness · simplicity · inexperience · artlessness · guilelessness · unsophistication
Surprised when unprepared
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
- blindsidedSurprised by unforeseen impact
- unpreparedLacking readiness beforehand
- startledAbruptly surprised or alarmed
astonishment · shock · taken aback · wrong-footed · flat-footed · unsuspecting · trap · snare
State of being unprotected
- defenselessnessState of being unprotected
- susceptibilityLiability to influence
- unguardednessBeing without protection
- opennessQuality of being accessible
exploitability · risk · endangerment · weakness · helplessness · insecurity · pregnable · accessibility
carelessness
Inattention causing mistakes
- heedlessnessFailure to notice danger
- negligenceFailure to exercise care
- obliviousnessLack of awareness
unmindfulness · distraction · oversight · disregard · laxity · inattentiveness · absentmindedness · remissness · slackness · inadvertence
gullibility
Ease of being deceived
- credulityUncritical acceptance of claims
- trustfulnessReadiness to believe others
- ingenuousnessInnocent frankness, without cunning
innocence · overconfidence · blind faith · unworldliness · simplicity · inexperience · artlessness · guilelessness · unsophistication · easy mark
caught off guard
Surprised when unprepared
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
- blindsidedSurprised by unforeseen impact
- unpreparedLacking readiness beforehand
startled · astonishment · shock · taken aback · wrong-footed · flat-footed · unsuspecting · trap · snare · unexpected
exposure
State of being unprotected
- defenselessnessState of being unprotected
- susceptibilityLiability to influence
- unguardednessBeing without protection
openness · exploitability · risk · endangerment · weakness · helplessness · insecurity · pregnable · accessibility · peril
- foolishnessfoolishness, silliness, foolish, stupid, folly
unwarinesswariness
Cautious distrust
caution · vigilance · cautiousness · carefulness · alertness
unwarinessprudence
Careful, wise judgment
cautiousness · care · carefulness · chariness · discretion