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
More blue-chip sponsors are wary of such shows, which often align themselves with a vocal niche of progressives or conservatives.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024
According to Lyle Goldstein, director for Asia Engagement at Defense Priorities, Beijing is wary of a Trump White House return.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024
Look for a refund policy: Be wary of any ticket listings that don’t offer clear details about the terms of the transaction.
—Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Nov. 2024
Chinese leaders will also be closely watching how a Trump presidency would handle the war in Ukraine – with Beijing likely wary of him taking steps to mend US relations with Russia and President Vladimir Putin, a critical ally for Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the global stage.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wary 
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Brian Steinberg, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024
According to Lyle Goldstein, director for Asia Engagement at Defense Priorities, Beijing is wary of a Trump White House return.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024
Look for a refund policy: Be wary of any ticket listings that don’t offer clear details about the terms of the transaction.
—Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Nov. 2024
Chinese leaders will also be closely watching how a Trump presidency would handle the war in Ukraine – with Beijing likely wary of him taking steps to mend US relations with Russia and President Vladimir Putin, a critical ally for Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the global stage.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wary
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Dictionary Entries Near wary
Cite this Entry
“Wary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wary. Accessed 22 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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