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Leery vs Wary - What's the difference?

leery | wary |

As adjectives the difference between leery and wary

is that leery is cautious, hesitant, or nervous about something; having reservations or concerns while wary is cautious of danger; carefully watching and guarding against deception, artifices, and dangers; timorously or suspiciously prudent; circumspect; scrupulous; careful.

leery

English

Adjective

(er)
  • Cautious, hesitant, or nervous about something; having reservations or concerns.
  • :Since he was bitten by a dog when he was young, he has always been leery of animals.

    • Anagrams

    *

    wary

    English

    (Webster 1913)

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Cautious of danger; carefully watching and guarding against deception, artifices, and dangers; timorously or suspiciously prudent; circumspect; scrupulous; careful.
    • He is wary of dogs.
  • Characterized by caution; guarded; careful.

    • Synonyms

    * cautious, guarded, careful, chary

    Derived terms

    * unwary * warily * wariness

    Anagrams

    * *

    See also

    * weary