1
as in cautious
having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble
careful drivers slow down on slick or icy roadways
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in meticulous
taking, showing, or involving great care and effort
that furniture maker was known to be a most careful worker, so his output was small
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of careful
Just be careful not to let any drips seep into the appliance vents.
—
Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 10 Jan. 2026
The first attempt took about 10 minutes of slow and careful plodding, but within a couple or three run throughs, the whole process proved quick and easy.
—New Atlas, 9 Jan. 2026
And remember that an informed, strategic and careful approach is always the right way to borrow money, but especially with a mortgage in today's unique economic landscape.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
But these drugs can have serious side effects and require careful study before they can be repurposed for addiction.
—Habibeh Khoshbouei, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for careful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for careful
Adjective
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Be especially cautious in school zones and watch for children and the flashing lights of school buses.—
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Two years as a mental health patient had taught Virginia to be cautious.—
Adjective
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The most meticulous work on this subject was carried out by David Noble, a historian of technology.—
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Ramon is known for making meticulous in-court analyses for bail and custody decisions.—
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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Bindi’s only six years older, but is very conscientious and a real caregiver.—
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There are unanswered overtures from the choir’s pianist Horner (Robert Emms), a soft, vulnerable young man whose conscientious-objector status renders him a fellow outsider.—
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.—
Adjective
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Schlossberg will be remembered as a passionate environmental journalist, curious author, and loving mother, wife, daughter, and friend.—
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Her son Sebastian announced her death on her Instagram account, penning a loving tribute to the socialite and jewelry designer.—
Adjective
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But such diligent injury prevention doesn’t address the root cause of Rec League Dysmorphia.—
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Iran thus has every right to demand that the IAEA be diligent in observing its own procedures and codes of conduct on impartiality, objectivity, confidentiality, and sensitivity to national security concerns in exchange for continued cooperation.—
Cite this Entry
“Careful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/careful. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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