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

I always feel chary about recommending the Society’s books since I’ve supplied introductions to several of them.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 1, 2020

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

Back at the house, McTeer told me that she is chary of media attention.

From The New Yorker ● Oct. 17, 2016

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

She was more and more masterful, quicker with her orders, charier of her smiles, shorter of speech and temper.

From Hidden Creek by Katharine Newlin Burt

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

From The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson

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

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

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

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

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