as in wary
having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble
chary investors who weren't burned by the dot-com bust
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of chary
A lot of people were mildly chary of its prospects.
—
The Economist, 13 Mar. 2021
He’s not as guarded or chary as he was immersed in the Boston Baseball Experience, where one wrong step or word can spark furor.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 18 July 2022
Knox was a bit chary on specifics, but no athlete allows that many injections without asking questions.
—Richard A. Lovett, Outside Online, 1 Sep. 2021
Beautiful is a strong word, and artists, critics and scholars are chary of it.
—Washington Post, 3 Nov. 2021
With a writer so chary of detail, the reader rushes to fill in.
—Caleb Crain, The Atlantic, 10 Aug. 2021
That tone is most obvious in the author’s chary regard of his icon.
—John Semley, The New Republic, 26 May 2021
Evangelical Christians, traditionally chary of getting involved in partisan politics.
—Rick Perlstein, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Aug. 2020
The autocratic Chinese government is also chary of any display of mass mobilization, even benign ones like Pride.
—Charlie Campbell / Shanghai, Time, 15 June 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chary
Adjective
-
Ever since the end of World War II, a long parade of American presidents saw first the Soviet Union and then, after a brief and illusory interregnum, its successor Russia as a force to be wary of, at the very least.—
-
The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to be wary of unsolicited calls from people claiming to be with the College Board.—
Adjective
-
Experts are cautious about making predictions, given the many legal and political factors at play.—
-
Forest have been more cautious with loans in the 2024-25 season.—
Adjective
-
Under Jones’ careful direction, the Bulldogs do not beat themselves.—
-
Effective brainstorming sessions require careful planning and prep.—
Cite this Entry
“Chary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chary. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share