cautious
Careful to avoid danger or mistakes.
cautious in a sentence
- Ever cautious, Dad tested the ice with a stick before letting us near the pond.
- The cautious hedgehog sniffed the air carefully before creeping out from under the hedge.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to cautious?
- Acareful
- Bcareless
- Creckless
- Dhasty
Show the answer
A: careful. The other three mean the opposite of cautious.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to cautious?
- Acareless
- Bwatchful
- Ccareful
- Dalert
Show the answer
A: careless. The other three mean nearly the same as cautious.
Words that mean something similar
careful, watchful, alert
Words that mean the opposite
careless, reckless, hasty
Careful: cautious is not prudent
Cautious is about the danger in front of you. Prudent is about the one that has not arrived yet. Read why children mix them up.
More words about behaviour & manners
- chaos: A state of complete confusion, where nothing is in order.
- chivalrous: Polite, kind and brave, especially towards people who need help.
- clemency: The mercy a ruler or judge shows by giving a gentler punishment.
- commend: To praise someone for doing something well.
- compel: To force someone to do something.
- consent: To agree to something or give permission for it.
- contribute: To give something, such as money, time or ideas, to help.
- conventional: Usual and traditional, done the way things are normally done.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test