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Glite Dictionary
leery

leery

23 6.9
Careful because you do not trust someone or something
  • adjective
  • /ˈlɪəri/
translation icon : receloso de
  • She felt leery about trusting him again after he had lied to her in the past.
  • Many educators are leery

So that should lead us to be a little bit leery of demanding definitions right off the bat.

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Examples

  • So I'm very leery of anything that makes big promises about stuff like that.

    Rich Roll

  • C. began to feel more and more leery about the readings he was invited to.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • I'm getting leery of this guy.

    Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

  • But it's a method many designers and their managers are leery of undertaking.

    Academic text (2005)

  • Also, clients may be leery of white professionals as a result of perceived and experienced discrimination.

    Academic text (2009)

  • Add in the fact that people are often very leery of reporting any sexual misconduct.

    Blog text (18)

  • Overall, I like the draft but am a little leery of the Tannehill pick.

    Blog text (1)

  • Generally speaking, white working-class men were leery of this transformation.

    Academic text (2013)

  • Cost-conscious school administrators and school boards are leery of this new focus on mental health.

    Academic text (1997)

  • Of the many witnesses I've spoken to, the majority are more than a little leery of speaking publicly about their experiences.

    Boggy Creek Monster (2016)

Synonyms

cautious
vsleery
210 2.9

Careful to avoid risk or mistakes

is driven by suspicion and often shows open distrust
suspicious
vsleery
138 3.2

Not trusting other people or what they say

is more cautious and often openly distrustful because of that doubt
wary
vsleery
110 3.6

Careful because you do not trust someone or something

is more driven by specific suspicion and open distrust
distrustful
vsleery
10 5.4

Not trusting other people and doubting their honesty

is usually caution based on suspicion rather than a steady habit
mistrustful
vsleery
5 5.2

Not trusting people and not willing to tell them private things

is more about cautious behaviour prompted by that doubt
untrusting
vsleery
2 4.9

A person who does not easily believe others or share feelings with them

is more often situational caution because of specific suspicion

Antonyms

trusting
12 2.1

Willing to believe people are honest

How Wary

mistrustful
5 5.2
suspicious
300 2.7
leery
23 6.9
cautious
210 2.9
trusting
12 2.1

Surface Forms

leery positive

Etymology

Leery comes from the verb leer, which means to look at someone in a sly or suspicious way. That's why being leery means being 'cautious' or not trusting someone or something.