as in careful
having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble
gave the cork on the bottle of champagne a gingerly twist
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in carefully
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gingerly
Kang-Chun Cheng, Christian Science Monitor, 9 July 2025
Unlike the gingerly approach to easing restrictions targeting the spread of the virus, the country is split over reopening businesses and schools.
—Kendall Karson, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2021
Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Marland's friend Stacy – who works on the farm and is close with the animals, too – gingerly approached the roo and knelt down.
—Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gingerly
Adjective
Despite the satisfaction that handlers take in gingerly nursing pangolins back to their full strength, the center’s location and the handlers’ identities must remain a secret.
—Kang-Chun Cheng, Christian Science Monitor, 9 July 2025
Unlike the gingerly approach to easing restrictions targeting the spread of the virus, the country is split over reopening businesses and schools.
—Kendall Karson, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2021
Adverb
Marland's friend Stacy, who works on the farm and is close with the animals, gingerly approached the kangaroo and knelt.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Marland's friend Stacy – who works on the farm and is close with the animals, too – gingerly approached the roo and knelt down.
—Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gingerly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gingerly
Adjective
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Detecting such tiny numbers of atoms takes time, and the setup requires careful calibration and advanced equipment.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Apr. 2026
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Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Finally, a second staffer laid a towel over the jerseys, tamped it down a little more, and the two of them carefully slid the slab on top, the two metal latches closing without any effort.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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Nearly 17 years after his death, the Michael Jackson brand is more carefully curated than ever.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The mood on Friday was celebratory yet wary.—
Laura Tillman,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
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Despite some recent all-time stock market highs, most Americans are wary about investing.—
Emily Guskin,
ABC News,
25 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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Organizers say once additional layers are completed, the mural will be installed in the Gayborhood and formally dedicated in June.—
Eva Andersen,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Rudolph Moise formally announced his candidacy for the 20th District in February.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Be cautious of any company that pushes a specific program without understanding your circumstances.—
Rebecca Safier,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Visitors should be cautious about going into a sea cave without a guide, as a swell can flow into it and dramatically raise the water level in a matter of seconds, pushing kayaks into rocks and leaving little air for those trapped inside.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
29 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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Then, on Friday and Saturday, DeCosta would methodically attempt to upgrade his roster at numerous positions — with much of that energy geared toward enhancing star quarterback Lamar Jackson’s reality — a prospect that excited him as the three-day marathon approached.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Taylor Polidore Williams recurs as Brooke Cropper, Eric’s second wife who is just as calculating as her husband and is methodically preparing for a heated divorce.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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Markus Redmond rounded out the cast as orderly turned EMT Raymond.—
Kelly Martinez,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Mar. 2026
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Keep boots upright and orderly by using boot trees, cardboard tubes, or even a short length of PVC pipe.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
8 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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Take your time, systematically checking every nook and cranny.—
Nicole Letts,
Southern Living,
28 Apr. 2026
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At the same time, in the United States and around the world, women’s rights and protections are being systematically stripped away.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gingerly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gingerly. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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