We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be.
Source: tatoeba (2318)
Careful
/ˈkɛɹfəl/
Synonyms for "careful" (280 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (56)
Adjective(19 words)
measuredaccurate pronunciationaccurate throwapprehensivebe carefulcareful irrigationcareful readingcarfulcautiouscautious approachcharierchariestcognisantcomposed workconservative mindsetconservative policyconsideratecool headdark culture
Noun(8 words)
admirable effortcare taskcautious claimcloseconservative conceptconservative forcesconservative stanceconservative usage
Verb(1 words)
Strong matches (84)
deliberatedelicatediligentdiscreetdiscriminatingdiscriminativeduteousdutifulearnesteconomiceconomicaleconomizingenlightenedexactfaithfulfastidiousfinicalfinickingfinickyforehanded
Show 23 more words
foresightedfrugalfussygingerlygoodguardedheedfulhesitantintenseintentintentivejohnny on the spotjudgmaticjudicialjudiciouslabor savinglabor-savinglaboriousleaving out nothingleerylovingmethodicalmeticulous
Adjective(1 words)
Adjective(27 words)
deliberatedeliberate behaviordeliberate changedeliberate decisiondeliberate deliverydeliberate disregarddeliberate effortdeliberate movementdeliberate snubdeliberativedeliberative bodydeliberative discussiondelicatedelicate executiondetailed explanationdue careeuphemisticfragile materialfragile reef ecosystemgentle hand watering
Show 7 more words
Noun(12 words)
deliberate plandeliberate thinkingestimation experthighly organizedlistening for detailmanual dexteritymeasured energy in teachingmeasured eventmeasured forcemeasured kinetic energiesmeasured timemeasured trim
Verb(1 words)
Related words (140)
Adjective(40 words)
meticulous plannermetódicomore conservativephonetic hesitationplanfulpreciseprecise energy valueprecise manipulationprecise mass measurementprecise measureprecise phrasingprecise ruleprecise speechprecise vocabulary usageprudentpusillanimousreliable network usagereluctantrespectful wordingrigorous analysis
Noun(18 words)
Verb(4 words)
mindfulminutemoney savingmoney-savingnarrownicenigglingnoncommittalobservantobservingon guardon the ballon the jobopen eyedopen-earedopen-eyedopenmouthedoverconscientiousoverlooking no possibilityoverscrupulous
Show 56 more words
painfulpainstakingparsimoniousparticularpawkypenny-wisepoliticpreciseprotectiveprovidentprudentprudentialpunctiliouspunctualreflectingreflectiveregardfulreligiousreluctantrigidsafesavingscotchscrimpingscrupulousskimpingslow to actsolicitoussparesparingstrictstudiedstudioussuspicioussystematictendertender-consciencedtentativethoroughthoughtfulthriftytime savingtime-savingtrueunadventurousuncommunicativeundaringuneasyunenterprisingunprecipitateunwastefulvigilantwarywatchfulwell-advisedwell-judged
How these synonyms differ
- cautious - 'Cautious' implies wariness about risk, a cautious driver anticipates danger. 'Careful' is broader and can simply mean attentive to detail.
- deliberate - 'Deliberate' means careful by choice and design, each step is intentional. It emphasizes purpose over anxiety.
- meticulous - 'Meticulous' is care taken to an extreme, every detail examined, every standard met. It borders on obsessive precision.
- prudent - 'Prudent' adds wisdom to caution, a prudent decision isn't just safe but well-reasoned. It implies foresight rather than mere worry.
- vigilant - 'Vigilant' is care on high alert, watching for threats or problems with sustained intensity. A careful person avoids mistakes; a vigilant one guards against them.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
8 entriesMore specific
7 entriesCollocations
9 entriescareful approachcareful attentioncareful crossingcareful decisioncareful handlingcareful observationcareful planningcareful readingcareful study
Inflections
2 entriesmore carefulmost careful
Derivations
2 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
26 entriesShowing 16 of 26 words.
Sample sentences
16 total sentences available.
You must be careful not to make him angry.
Source: tatoeba (15795)
You had better be careful not to overeat.
Source: tatoeba (15985)
You cannot be too careful when driving.
Source: tatoeba (16018)
Showing 4 of 16 available sentences.