variants
also leary
as in wary
feeling or showing a lack of trust in someone or something
a leery attitude She seemed a little leery about the proposal. They were leery of their neighbors.
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Recent Examples of leery
Despite the kumbaya of last season, many of the moms remain leery of welcoming Demi back into the fold with open arms, and the reunion will be the first big test to see if their fragile peace actually holds.
—
Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
Rising oil prices and leery markets could spook the president into pulling back from the conflict.
—Joel Mathis, TheWeek, 11 Mar. 2026
Irvi’s parents, Lulu and Martín, were leery of his decision.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
Still, some council members are leery of adding any new revenue-raising fees after the debacle of charging for parking at Balboa Park and the outcry from homeowners over the trash fees.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for leery
Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
Rising oil prices and leery markets could spook the president into pulling back from the conflict.
—Joel Mathis, TheWeek, 11 Mar. 2026
Irvi’s parents, Lulu and Martín, were leery of his decision.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
Still, some council members are leery of adding any new revenue-raising fees after the debacle of charging for parking at Balboa Park and the outcry from homeowners over the trash fees.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for leery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leery
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
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
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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
Adjective
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But Alireza Nader, an Iranian independent analyst based in Washington, is skeptical that economic pressure alone will force a strategic breaking point.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
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After the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti, which claimed some 300,000 lives, Chardy set out to confirm first-hand whether such a high toll was possible in response to an editor’s skeptical questions, said Jacqueline Charles, the Herald’s longtime Haiti and Caribbean correspondent.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leery. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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