chary
Adjective: 1. Cautious and wary: Showing great care and reluctance to take risks, often due to fear of danger or undesirable consequences. 2. Sparing or restrained: Hesitant to give, use, or express something (like praise, money, or trust) freely; characterized by reserve or frugality.
The adjective "chary" describes a person's careful, hesitant, or frugal attitude. It is often followed by the preposition "of" to indicate what one is being cautious about. - It is used to describe a person's general disposition of caution. - It is used to describe a specific, restrained behavior, such as being sparing with words or resources.
- Characterized by caution and wariness:
- She was chary of making any promises she couldn't keep.
- Investors have grown chary of putting money into new ventures.
- Sparing or restrained:
- He is chary with his compliments, so when he praises you, it means a lot.
- The old man was chary of his personal information, sharing very little with strangers.
- "Chary of" + noun/gerund: This is the most common construction, indicating the object of one's caution or restraint.
- Politicians are often chary of controversial topics during an election year.
- Be chary of accepting gifts from someone you barely know.
- Chariness (noun): The state or quality of being chary; cautiousness.
- His natural chariness prevented him from falling for the scam.
- Cautious: Careful to avoid potential problems or dangers.
- Wary: Feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems.
- Circumspect: Wary and unwilling to take risks; considering all circumstances and consequences.
- Sparing: Moderate; restrained in use or provision.
- Frugal: Sparing or economical with regard to money or food.
- Reckless: Without thinking or caring about the consequences of an action.
- Careless: Not giving sufficient attention or thought to avoiding harm or errors.
- Lavish: Bestowing something in generous or extravagant quantities.
- Effusive: Expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestrained, heartfelt manner.
(Note: "Chary" itself is not commonly used in fixed idioms, but it fits into descriptive phrases.) - To be chary of one's trust: To be very careful about whom one trusts. - After being betrayed, she became chary of her trust. - To give a chary response: To give a very cautious or non-committal answer. - The spokesperson gave a chary response to the reporter's probing question.
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characterized by great caution and wariness
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a cagey avoidance of a definite answer
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chary of the risks involved
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a chary investor
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