wary
Slow to trust
Wary means cautiously watchful, alert to possible danger or deception.
Someone wary of strangers keeps their guard up around unfamiliar people.
She was wary of his sudden friendliness.
The word suggests learned caution—suspicion based on experience rather than paranoia.
To be wary is to proceed carefully, eyes open for trouble.
Exercising caution and attention
- prudentExercising sound judgment
- circumspectCarefully considering consequences
- guardedWary and restrained
- charyCautiously reluctant
discreet · measured · deliberate · tentative · conservative · judicious · meticulous · calculated
Inclined to distrust
- mistrustfulLacking faith in others
- skepticalInclined to question claims
- leeryCautiously distrustful
- doubtfulUncertain of truth
dubious · cynical · questioning · disbelieving · unconvinced · incredulous · jaded · jaundiced
Carefully attentive, observant
- vigilantKeenly aware of danger
- observantNoticing things readily
- attentivePaying close notice
- sharp-eyedHaving keen vision
keen · perceptive · on guard · on the lookout · wide-awake · open-eyed · on one's toes · ready
Troubled, not calm
- nervousUneasy and apprehensive
- anxiousTroubled by uncertainty
- worriedTroubled by uncertainty
- fearfulFull of fright
edgy · jittery · tense · unsettled · spooked · skittish · jumpy · antsy
Restrained in manner
- defensiveProtective or easily threatened
- cageyReluctant to share information
- evasiveAvoiding direct response
- reticentDisinclined to speak freely
close-mouthed · tight-lipped · noncommittal · standoffish · aloof · withdrawn · secretive · protective
careful
Exercising caution and attention
- prudentExercising sound judgment
- circumspectCarefully considering consequences
- guardedWary and restrained
chary · discreet · measured · deliberate · tentative · conservative · judicious · meticulous · calculated · gingerly
suspicious
Inclined to distrust
- mistrustfulLacking faith in others
- skepticalInclined to question claims
- leeryCautiously distrustful
doubtful · dubious · cynical · questioning · disbelieving · unconvinced · incredulous · jaded · jaundiced · untrusting
watchful
Carefully attentive, observant
sharp-eyed · keen · perceptive · on guard · on the lookout · wide-awake · open-eyed · on one's toes · ready · awake
uneasy
Troubled, not calm
fearful · edgy · jittery · tense · unsettled · spooked · skittish · jumpy · antsy · hesitant
reserved
Restrained in manner
- defensiveProtective or easily threatened
- cageyReluctant to share information
- evasiveAvoiding direct response
reticent · close-mouthed · tight-lipped · noncommittal · standoffish · aloof · withdrawn · secretive · protective · shielded
- doubtdoubt, doubts, doubting, doubtful, skepticism
- SAT vocabularyaesthetic, ambiguous, benevolent, candid, concise
- cautioncareful, be careful, cautious, caution, watch out
- vigilancewatchfulness, vigilant, alertness, watchful, attentiveness
- street smartsstreet smarts, savvy, resourceful, resourcefulness, cunning
- suspiciondistrust, suspicion, mistrust, suspiciousness, doubt
warycareless
Inattentive, prone to mistakes
unwary · incautious · heedless · unguarded · negligent
warytrusting
Inclined to believe others
trustful · gullible · credulous · naive · unsuspecting
warybold
Courageous and daring
reckless · rash · daring · adventurous · venturesome
aware, beware, unwary, wariness, warier, wariest, unwariness