chary

Even if she wanted to pursue an exemption, the Lord Advocate would be chary of inciting the home secretary's ire.

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2025

Instead, “West Side Story” languished when it was first released, its core audience of older filmgoers still chary of venturing into theaters.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 14, 2022

The slightly older native, say a millennial, seems a bit chary of the voice call: they text in advance to schedule them, or if they ring unannounced, start by apologising.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 3, 2018

But Mr Richardson is a bit chary nonetheless when he holds the newspaper—perhaps due to its age and fragility, or perhaps in memory of those poisoned printers.

From Economist ● May 23, 2018

Scarlet flowers are so rare, and nature is so chary of that beautiful hue, that these blossoms are especially welcome.

From The Wild Flowers of California: Their Names, Haunts, and Habits by Mary Elizabeth Parsons

He belonged to the new scientific school which studies and co-relates, but is chary of affirmations, and charier still of denials.

From The Side Of The Angels A Novel by Basil King

Perhaps they ran out so to greet the winter-worn mariners of Plymouth, and have been pursued by the love of their descendants ever since, they getting charier.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 05, No. 28, February, 1860 by Various

I have grown charier of the word ‘impossible’ now.

From The Daughters of Danaus by Mona Caird

“An I had thought ye were so angry I would ’a’ been charier of crossing you. 

From The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson

While Rasselwitz grew continually sulkier and charier of his words, and at last became downright sleepy, Tausdorf's spirits were more and more awakened and joyful.

From Specimens of German Romance Vol. I. The Patricians by Carl Franz van der Velde

Shall we not revise Shakespeare: The chariest maid is prodigal enough If she unmask her beauty on the Boul.

From The So-called Human Race by Bert Leston Taylor

The chariest maid is prodigal enough, If she unmask her beauty to the moon: Virtue itself 'scapes not calumnious strokes.

From Characteristics of Women Moral, Poetical, and Historical by Mrs. (Anna) Jameson