wary

/ˈwɛə.ɹi/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: warier · wariest · waries · warying

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Cautious of danger; carefully watching and guarding against deception, trickery, and dangers; suspiciously prudent

Adjective

Examples

He is wary of dogs.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Characterized by caution; guarded; careful; on one's guard

Adjective

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

To curse, revile.

Verb

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “wary” mean?

Cautious of danger; carefully watching and guarding against deception, trickery, and dangers; suspiciously prudent

Is “wary” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.