cagily

Examples

• All

• Others lay low, cagily silent until all but one other bidder is out, and then enter the fray, hoping to shock and dispirit the one who felt the prize within grasp.

  Fiction book (1997)

• "May I bring a guest, Swinbrok?" he asked cagily.

  Fiction book (1998)

• "She smiled cagily.

  Fiction book (1993)

• Teachers can create groups randomly by handing out cards or objects and asking students to find others with the same cards or objects, or they can distribute them cagily to separate two friends, to put two dominating types in the same group, or to have all shy people in one group.

  Academic text (1991)

• She answered the question cagily, unsure of how much information to reveal.

• When asked about the plan, he spoke cagily, avoiding any specific details.

• The negotiator acted cagily, careful not to disclose too much to the opposing team.

Synonyms

W

warily

vscagily

16 4.3

To act carefully and watch for danger

is more shrewdly evasive, aiming to mislead rather than just stay safe

G

guardedly

vscagily

3 6.5

In a careful way that avoids risk or saying too much

is craftier and deliberately evasive to hide true intentions

C

circumspectly

vscagily

• Formal

1 8.3

To act carefully after thinking about possible problems and results

is sneakier and more evasive instead of being only cautious

C

charily

vscagily

9.6

Carefully because you are unsure about possible risks

is more calculating and evasive rather than merely prudent

Antonyms

O

openly

303 1.6

To say or do things without hiding feelings

How Cautious

secretly

261 1.4

evasively

1 6.4

cagily

1 7.9

carefully

978 1.0

openly

303 1.6

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology