wary
Adjective
Medium difficulty
What does “wary” mean?
adjective.feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems.
SAT Usage
the term often appears in passages discussing decision-making, risk assessment, or personal relationships. It emphasizes a heightened sense of caution and awareness of potential pitfalls, distinguishing it from similar words like "careful," which may imply general attentiveness rather than a specific apprehension about danger.
Common Confusions
Wary implies a heightened sense of caution about potential dangers, while careful usually suggests a general attentiveness without specific apprehension about risks.
Do not choose wary if the context emphasizes fear or anxiety rather than feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems.
Example Sentences
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Investors were wary of the unstable market conditions.