Synonyms for cautious
ˈkɔ ʃəscau·tious

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:3.7 / 3 votes

1. cautiousadjective

   Antonyms:
   careless, neglecting

2. cautiousadjective

   He took a few cautious steps out the door.

   Antonyms:
   neglecting, careless

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. cautious

   Vigilant implies more sustained activity and more intelligent volition than alert; one may be habitually alert by reason of native quickness of perception and thought, or one may be momentarily alert under some excitement or expectancy; one who is vigilant is so with thoughtful purpose. One is vigilant against danger or harm; he may be alert or watchful for good as well as against evil; he is wary in view of suspected stratagem, trickery, or treachery. A person may be wakeful because of some merely physical excitement or excitability, as through insomnia; yet he may be utterly careless and negligent in his wakefulness, the reverse of watchful; a person who is truly watchful must keep himself wakeful while on watch, in which case wakeful has something of mental quality. Watchful, from the Saxon, and vigilant, from the Latin, are almost exact equivalents; but vigilant has somewhat more of sharp definiteness and somewhat more suggestion of volition; one may be habitually watchful; one is vigilant of set purpose and for direct cause, as in the presence of an enemy. Compare ALERT.

   Synonyms:
   alert, awake, careful, circumspect, on the alert, on the lookout, sleepless, vigilant, wakeful, wary, watchful, wide-awake

   Antonyms:
   careless, drowsy, dull, heedless, inattentive, incautious, inconsiderate, neglectful, negligent, oblivious, thoughtless, unwary

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. timid, cautiousadjective

   people who are fearful and cautious

   "whitewater rafting is not for the timid"

   Synonyms:
   timid

   Antonyms:
   tearaway(a), immoderate, madcap, hotheaded, incautious, impetuous, impulsive, brainish

2. cautiousadjective

   showing careful forethought

   "reserved and cautious; never making swift decisions"; "a cautious driver"

   Synonyms:
   conservative

   Antonyms:
   incautious, impetuous, madcap, brainish, impulsive, tearaway(a), hotheaded, immoderate

3. cautious, conservativeadjective

   avoiding excess

   "a conservative estimate"

   Synonyms:
   bourgeois, materialistic, button-down, buttoned-down, conservative

   Antonyms:
   impetuous, hotheaded, incautious, immoderate, brainish, madcap, tearaway(a), impulsive

Editors ContributionRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. careful, to hold-back, vigilant, wary, unsure

   i would be cautious about walking there after dark.

   Submitted by Soulwriter on June 13, 2021  

2. hesitant

   i would be cautious about walking there after dark.

   Submitted by anonymous on June 30, 2021  

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. cautiousadjective

   Synonyms:
   prudent, wary, careful, heedful, chary, circumspect, discreet, watchful, vigilant

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. cautiousadjective

   Synonyms:
   circumspect, prudent, wary

   Antonyms:
   incautious, unwary

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:4.0 / 1 vote

1. List of paraphrases for "cautious":

   prudent, careful, wary, warned, circumspect, conservative, vigilant, precautionary, timid, prudential, caution, prudence, wise

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How to use cautious in a sentence?

1. Marcus Bachhuber:

   Benzodiazepine prescriptions are widespread, but their use may not be the smart choice for many patients, people should be cautious when taking benzodiazepines, particularly when combining them with alcohol or opioid medications.

2. Masashi Oda:

   The market should be quiet this week because after the summit is over, there are Fed, ECB meetings so investors are likely to remain cautious this week.

3. George Lucas:

   Mos Eisley spaceport. You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious.

4. Anna Kireeva:

   Large Chinese businesses are wary about secondary sanctions and are cautious about dealing with the Russian entities under sanctions or with the Russian market in general.

5. National Weather Service:

   Please be extra cautious with anything that could start a fire in the coming days by being sure it is no longer burning when you discard it. Be sure to extinguish all campfires in areas where they are permitted before leaving the area.