warier; wariest
: marked by keen caution, cunning, and watchfulness especially in detecting and escaping danger
Synonyms
Examples of wary in a Sentence
Great critics are sometimes wary of great authors. Eliot and Pound usually sidled past Shakespeare.
—
William Logan, New York Times Book Review, 11 Feb. 2001
Though sycamore wood was much used, pioneers were wary of the tree's fuzzy leaves, which they believed brought allergies and even consumption.
—Arthur Plotnik, The Urban Tree Book: An Uncommon Field Guide for City and Town, 2000
Modern literary novelists … wary of neat solutions and happy endings, have tended to invest their mysteries with an aura of ambiguity and to leave them unresolved.
—David Lodge, The Art of Fiction, 1992
The store owner kept a wary eye on him.
Investors are increasingly wary about putting money into stocks.
William Logan, New York Times Book Review, 11 Feb. 2001
Though sycamore wood was much used, pioneers were wary of the tree's fuzzy leaves, which they believed brought allergies and even consumption.
—Arthur Plotnik, The Urban Tree Book: An Uncommon Field Guide for City and Town, 2000
Modern literary novelists … wary of neat solutions and happy endings, have tended to invest their mysteries with an aura of ambiguity and to leave them unresolved.
—David Lodge, The Art of Fiction, 1992
The store owner kept a wary eye on him.
Investors are increasingly wary about putting money into stocks.
Recent Examples on the Web
Doctors at the surgical center became wary of the tainted IV bags in August 2022 after an 18-year-old patient had to be rushed to the intensive care unit during a routine sinus surgery, the Justice Department said.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 21 Nov. 2024
Australia will be wary knowing an underdog India have lifted off the canvas before.
—Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Vintage toys might spark memories, but PIRG warns that consumers should be wary of toys made before 2008, when the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act took effect.
—Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 20 Nov. 2024
Again, children who are wary of depictions of animal harm may be uncomfortable with seeing that character, as well as a young lion cub, threatened or in a cage.
—Jack Smart, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wary 
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Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 21 Nov. 2024
Australia will be wary knowing an underdog India have lifted off the canvas before.
—Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Vintage toys might spark memories, but PIRG warns that consumers should be wary of toys made before 2008, when the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act took effect.
—Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 20 Nov. 2024
Again, children who are wary of depictions of animal harm may be uncomfortable with seeing that character, as well as a young lion cub, threatened or in a cage.
—Jack Smart, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wary
Articles Related to wary
Dictionary Entries Near wary
Cite this Entry
“Wary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wary. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wary
adjective
ˈwa(ə)r-ē 
ˈwe(ə)r-
warier; wariest
: very cautious
especially
: being on guard against danger or trickery
wary of strangers
warily
adverb
ˈwar-ə-lē
ˈwer-
wariness
noun
ˈwar-ē-nəs
ˈwer-
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