careful

[ kair-fuhl ]

adjective

1. cautious in one's actions:

   Be careful when you cross the street.

   Synonyms: circumspect, chary, guarded, watchful

   Antonyms: careless

2. taking pains in one's work; exact; thorough:

   a careful typist.

   Synonyms: scrupulous, meticulous

   Antonyms: careless

3. (of things) done or performed with accuracy or caution:

   careful research.

   Synonyms: rigorous

   Antonyms: careless

4. solicitously mindful (usually followed by of, about, or in ):

   careful of the rights of others;

   careful about one's behavior;

   careful in speech.

   Synonyms: regardful, heedful, attentive, solicitous, concerned, thoughtful

   Antonyms: careless

5. Archaic.
   1. full of anxiety or care; troubled.
   2. causing or attended with anxiety:

      a careful day.

careful

/ ˈkɛəfʊl /

adjective

1. cautious in attitude or action; prudent
2. painstaking in one's work; thorough

   he wrote very careful script

3. usually postpositive; foll by of, in, or about solicitous; protective

   careful of one's reputation

4. archaic.
   full of care; anxious
5. mean or miserly

Derived Forms

• ˈcarefully, adverb
• ˈcarefulness, noun

Other Words From

• care·ful·ly adverb
• care·ful·ness noun
• qua·si-care·ful adjective
• ul·tra·care·ful adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of careful¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English carful, cearful; care, -ful

Synonym Study

Careful, cautious, discreet, wary imply a watchful guarding against something. Careful implies guarding against mistakes, by paying strict and close attention to details, and, often, trying to use good judgment: He was careful to distinguish between them. Cautious implies a fear of some unfavorable situation and investigation before coming to conclusions: cautious about investments. Discreet implies being prudent in speech and action and being trustworthy as a confidant: discreet in manner, in keeping secrets. Wary implies a vigilant lookout for a danger suspected or feared: wary of polite strangers. See painstaking.

Example Sentences

As for managing my feelings, I’m careful and selective as to what news or information I consume.

From Salon

She added people who already have points, or who had escaped a ban based on exceptional hardship, which they cannot apply for on the same grounds more than once in a three-year period, were often "a lot more careful than anybody else on the road".

From BBC

Alberto Carvalho said school leaders were “methodical, careful and all-encompassing” as they studied options on what to do with cellphones.

From Los Angeles Times

New Yorkers still need to be careful.

From Slate

“It’s a violation of people’s right to autonomy and is an example of the government interfering in careful discussions and decisions made involving patients, their families, and their clinicians,” Keuroghlian told Salon in a phone interview.

From Salon

Related Words

• accurate
• attentive
• choosy
• circumspect
• concerned
• conscientious
• deliberate
• discreet
• judicious
• leery
• meticulous
• mindful
• precise
• prudent
• rigorous
• scrupulous
• sober
• thorough
• thoughtful
• vigilant