What is another word for leery?

Pronunciation: [lˈi͡əɹi] (IPA)

Leery is an adjective that expresses hesitation, suspicion, or wariness in a specific situation. There are many synonyms for leery, including cautious, sceptical, watchful, distrustful, suspicious, guarded, hesitant, apprehensive, and wary. These words convey the same sense of caution and unease as leery, but each suggests a slightly different emotional state. Cautioned speaks to the sense of needing to be careful and protect oneself from harm or danger. Skeptical implies a sense of doubt or disbelief in something or someone. Watchful suggests being alert and vigilant to potential threats. Distrustful and suspicious both communicate a sense of questioning motives and not believing in something or someone. Guarded suggests being careful with one's words and actions to avoid revealing too much. Hesitant conveys a sense of uncertainty or unease. Apprehensive implies a feeling of fear or dread.

Synonyms for Leery:

What are the hypernyms for Leery?

A hypernym is a word with a broad meaning that encompasses more specific words called hyponyms.

What are the opposite words for leery?

Leery is a word that describes a state of suspicion or wariness towards a person, situation, or thing. Some of the antonyms for it include trustful, confident, assured, certain, unwary, and naive. Trustful suggests a willingness to believe that people will do the right thing. Confidence is a state of being sure about one's abilities, qualities, or judgments. Assured implies a sense of security and self-assurance. Certain suggests a feeling of conviction or certainty about something. Unwary is the opposite of leery, as it means not cautious or vigilant. Finally, naive indicates an absence of experience or understanding, often leading to gullibility.

What are the antonyms for Leery?

Usage examples for Leery

Listen, this guy knows what he's up against; he knows it might land him in Sing Sing and he'll be leery of this door being shut.
"Writing for Vaudeville"
Brett Page
He's already kinda leery about you and- But that's your funeral.
"The Gray Phantom's Return"
Herman Landon
An expression of profound self-satisfaction illumined his face as he looked at his wife, giving it a slightly leery expression, as of a shrewd rustic.
"The Woman With The Fan"
Robert Hichens

Famous quotes with Leery

  • I'm very leery of show business, having been in Los Angeles for the last 10 years. Buzz is a dangerous thing that I've heard applied to a lot of people that I've since not heard of again.
    Greg Kinnear
  • The secret of it is to read what you've got in front of you. Don't, if you suspect that something has a double meaning, don't pause. Don't put on a leery vocal expression if you know what I mean on radio. Don't sort of do anything other than read it.
    Humphrey Lyttelton
  • We went online to surrogacy agencies. We interviewed lots of people - and I have to say, with all due respect, some of them were freaks. I was very leery of the process the whole way through.
    Christopher Meloni

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