📖 Definitions of "Cautious"
adjective
- 1
Careful; using or exercising caution; tentative
"He took a few cautious steps toward the cave."
🔄 Synonyms of "Cautious"
14 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| timid | Lacking in courage or confidence. |
| restrained | Held back, limited, kept in check or under control. |
| gingerly | In a cautious and delicate manner; (very) carefully or cautiously. |
| moderatenoun | Not excessive; acting in moderation |
| guarded | Cautious; restrained. |
| chary | Careful, cautious, shy, wary. |
| cagey | Uncommunicative; unwilling or hesitant to give information. |
| dilatory | Intentionally delaying (someone or something), intended to cause delay, gain time, or adjourn decision. |
| careful | Taking care; attentive to potential danger, error or harm; cautious. |
| fabiannoun | (politics) Advocating that social reforms be reached through a series of gradual and moderate stages rather than sudden revolution; specifically, relating to the Fabian Society, a British socialist society advocating reformist socialism. |
| cagy | Alternative form of cagey. [Wary, careful, shrewd.] |
| overcautious | Excessively cautious. |
| unadventurous | Not adventurous |
| conservativenoun | (politics) One who seeks to promote or preserve traditional values or institutions. |
↔️ Antonyms of "Cautious"
Words with the opposite meaning.
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| braveverb | Strong in the face of fear; courageous. |
| incautious | careless, reckless, not exercising proper caution. |
💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Cautious"
Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| careful | Taking care; attentive to potential danger, error or harm; cautious. |
| overcautious | Excessively cautious. |
| charynoun | Careful, cautious, shy, wary. |
| cagey | Uncommunicative; unwilling or hesitant to give information. |
| gingerly | In a cautious and delicate manner; (very) carefully or cautiously. |
| moderate | Not excessive; acting in moderation |
| cagynoun | Alternative form of cagey. [Wary, careful, shrewd.] |
| dilatory | Intentionally delaying (someone or something), intended to cause delay, gain time, or adjourn decision. |
| guarded | Cautious; restrained. |
| restrained | Held back, limited, kept in check or under control. |
| timid | Lacking in courage or confidence. |
| unadventurous | Not adventurous |
| conservative | Tending to resist change or innovation. |
| fabian | (politics) Advocating that social reforms be reached through a series of gradual and moderate stages rather than sudden revolution; specifically, relating to the Fabian Society, a British socialist society advocating reformist socialism. |
| wary | Cautious of danger; carefully watching and guarding against deception, trickery, and dangers; suspiciously prudent |
| cautionnoun | Prudence when faced with, or when expecting to face, danger; care taken in order to avoid risk or harm. |
| cannynoun | Knowing, shrewd, astute. |
| circumspect | Carefully aware of all circumstances; considerate of all that is pertinent. |
| precautionary | Of, pertaining to, or serving as a precaution. |
| thorough | Painstaking and careful not to miss or omit any detail. |
⚡ Words Strongly Associated with "Cautious"
These words statistically appear in the same text as "cautious" (Google Books Ngrams).
🎨 Adjectives for "Cautious"
Popular adjectives used to describe this word in books.
🏷️ Nouns for "Cautious"
Common nouns this word is used to describe.
📝 Common Phrases with "Cautious"
Words that come before
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