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Definition of wary

wary

/ˈwɛr.i/
war · y
Adverb:warily
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wary Lexical Profile

wary Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Feeling or showing caution and vigilance regarding possible dangers, problems, or deception.

Example

"Investors remained wary of committing large sums to the volatile emerging market."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for wary
Antonyms
View all antonyms for wary

Word Nuance & Usage

"Wary" (cautious and alert to danger) and "leery" (suspicious or distrustful) are often blended with "weary" (tired or exhausted) in informal speech, producing the nonstandard portmanteau "weary of" when "wary of" is intended.

• Rhymes for wary

• Nearby Words

wartlike
warty
warwick
wary
warzone
wasabi
wasatch

Word Origin & Etymology

Recorded in the mid-16th century, "wary" was formed by adding the adjective suffix "-y" to the archaic adjective "ware" (meaning aware or cautious, still preserved in "aware" and "beware"), from Old English "wær."

Cite this Entry

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