leery

adjective

variants also leary
Definition of leerynext
as in wary
feeling or showing a lack of trust in someone or something a leery attitude She seemed a little leery about the proposal. They were leery of their neighbors.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 leery Crypto insiders worry that the coins will make the public even leerier of an industry already filled with scams and bad-faith actors. — Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 22 Jan. 2025 The state previously committed $1.1 billion in subsidies for stadiums to lure the Oakland A’s and the Oakland Raiders, leaving some lawmakers leery of a major commitment to Hollywood. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 26 Feb. 2025 As consumers returned to dining out, traveling and other services, many fast-food cashiers, front-desk clerks and hair stylists were leery of coming back to in-person jobs and living off generous government stimulus checks and other aid, Hershbein said. — Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 4 Feb. 2025 While consumers are leery of any more inflation, especially in the price-hike-happy streaming business, the financial world has long seen significant opportunity for the company to boost its profit margins by raising prices. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 21 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for leery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leery
  1. wary
  2. cautious
  3. skeptical
Adjective
  • Cuban compared people who are wary of adopting AI tools in the workplace to those who were once afraid to embrace PCs and mobile devices.
    — Tom Huddleston Jr.,Megan Sauer, CNBC, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Egypt is wary of the Muslim Brotherhood in which Hamas has its roots and has been fighting militant insurgents in the Sinai Peninsula, which neighbors Gaza.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of wary
Adjective
  • Some loyal Tesla bulls are treating the drop as a temporary setback (or even a buying opportunity), while more cautious investors are rethinking their exposure.
    — Shahar Ziv, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
  • China's approach to Trump's second term is more cautious, with the government emphasizing that any negotiations should take place on equal terms.
    — Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of cautious
Adjective
  • While there may be any number of reasons for doing that, don’t necessarily assume that the national Republican Party’s skeptical views on climate and taxes will affect local levels.
    — Ron Lieber, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Still, learning to think like a historian does not necessarily prepare someone to be a skeptical news consumer.
    — Lightning Jay, The Conversation, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of skeptical

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“Leery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leery. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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