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Definition of leery

leery

/ˈlɪr.i/
lee · ry
Adverb:leerily
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leery Lexical Profile

leery Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Cautious, suspicious, or distrustful due to doubts or reservations about something.

Example

"Consumers have grown increasingly leery of sharing their personal data with unfamiliar websites."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for leery
Antonyms
View all antonyms for leery

Word Nuance & Usage

'Leery' is almost always used as a predicate adjective followed by the preposition 'of' (or 'about'), and should not be confused with 'weary' (meaning tired).

• Rhymes for leery

• Nearby Words

leer
leerily
leeriness
leery
leeward
leeway
left

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the early 18th century as British slang meaning 'knowing' or 'wide-awake,' derived from the obsolete noun 'leer' (a sly or sidelong glance, from Old English 'hleor' meaning 'cheek' or 'face') plus the suffix '-y.'

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Leery. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/leery
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