wariness
Careful watchful state
Wariness is cautious vigilance—the state of being alert to potential danger or deception.
It suggests not quite trusting something: She approached the stray dog with wariness.
Wariness differs from fear; it's measured alertness rather than alarm.
You might feel wariness toward a smooth-talking salesman or an offer that seems too good.
Sense of unease about motives
- mistrustLack of faith
- doubtLack of firm belief
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
cynicism · misgiving · questioning · incredulity · dubiousness · leery · chary · distrustful
State of anxious unease
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- trepidationFearful uncertainty
- worryTroubled mental state
- uneaseMild persistent worry
dread · edginess · jitters · insecurity · fearfulness · timidity · skittishness · jumpiness
Careful, wise judgment
- circumspectionCareful consideration of consequences
- discretionCareful judgment in speech
- carefulnessQuality of being thorough
- heedfulnessQuality of being alert
alertness · forethought · judiciousness · watchfulness · precaution · deliberation · restraint · reservation
Active mental awareness
- watchfulnessCareful, sustained attention
- attentivenessConcentrated awareness of surroundings
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
surveillance · scrutiny · observation · lookout · guarded · on-guard · hypervigilance · circumspect
suspicion
Sense of unease about motives
- mistrustLack of faith
- doubtLack of firm belief
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
disbelief · cynicism · misgiving · questioning · incredulity · dubiousness · leery · chary · distrustful · doubtful
nervousness
State of anxious unease
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- trepidationFearful uncertainty
- worryTroubled mental state
unease · dread · edginess · jitters · insecurity · fearfulness · timidity · skittishness · jumpiness · fretfulness
prudence
Careful, wise judgment
- circumspectionCareful consideration of consequences
- discretionCareful judgment in speech
- carefulnessQuality of being thorough
heedfulness · alertness · forethought · judiciousness · watchfulness · precaution · deliberation · restraint · reservation · tentativeness
alertness
Active mental awareness
- watchfulnessCareful, sustained attention
- attentivenessConcentrated awareness of surroundings
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
monitoring · surveillance · scrutiny · observation · lookout · guarded · on-guard · hypervigilance · circumspect · sentinel
- carefulnessattention, attentiveness, care, carefulness, caution
- cautioncareful, be careful, cautious, caution, watch out
- dog traitsloyal, friendly, loyalty, devoted, playful
- doubtdoubt, doubts, doubting, doubtful, skepticism
- Playing it safecaution, prudence, baby steps, waiting, hesitation
- prudencecaution, discretion, foresight, forethought, judiciousness
warinessrecklessness
Careless disregard for danger
carelessness · rashness · heedlessness · incaution · imprudence
warinesstrust
Confidence in another
trustfulness · confidence · credulity · naivety · openness