as in careful
having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble
a cautious approach to everyday living
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Recent Examples of cautious
If Slot’s side were vibrant and forcing teams into submission at home, then a cautious approach away from home would be more accepted.
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Andy Jones, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026
The weather service suggests people follow reliable sources for forecast updates and be cautious of individual model runs that show exceptional snowfall amounts.
—Kansas City Star, 6 Jan. 2026
Emerging markets Wang anticipates another year of cautious spending—from suppliers to consumers.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 6 Jan. 2026
Russia’s reaction to the ouster of Maduro has been cautious.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cautious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cautious
Adjective
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Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
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These soft and chewy treats are the result of dozens of careful recipe tests.—
Adjective
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Hamilton, wary of France’s descent into chaos and its aggressive wars, contended that treaties are contracts with specific regimes, not eternal bonds irrespective of change.—
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As measles outbreaks flared up across the US last year, causing a record number of cases, Scott Thorpe kept a wary eye on Spartanburg County, South Carolina.—
Adjective
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Motorists should be alert for sudden changes in visibility due to the areas of dense fog.—
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Liens are recorded in state Uniform Commercial Code databases across the country, with the public filings intended to standardize interstate transactions and alert creditors about business debts and financial obligations.—
Cite this Entry
“Cautious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cautious. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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