wary

Group 1Difficulty 1/3

Definition

(adjective)
Feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems
GRE

Example in Context

Investors remain wary of the tech sector following a series of high-profile accounting scandals.

Synonyms

cautiouswatchfulguarded

Etymology

Showing caution or distrust.

  • war (Old English) — to be cautious

Memory Aid

⚠️Sounds like “very

If you're VERY cautious, you're WARY of every shadow lurking!

Visual Association

👀A cat peeking around a corner, eyes wide, suspicious of every noise it hears.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “wary” mean on the GRE?

wary (adjective) means “Feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems”. Investors remain wary of the tech sector following a series of high-profile accounting scandals.

How to remember “wary” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “wary” sounds like “very”. If you're VERY cautious, you're WARY of every shadow lurking!

What are synonyms for “wary”?

Common synonyms: cautious, watchful, guarded.