careful

[kair-fuhl] / ˈkɛər fəl /

ADJECTIVE

cautious; painstaking

Synonyms

STRONGEST

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

STRONG

detail-oriented

WEAK

alert apprehensive assiduous chary conservative cool exacting fastidious finicky fussy going to great lengths guarded heedful observant particular playing safe prim protective provident punctilious regardful religious selfdisciplined shy solicitous solid

Antonyms

STRONGEST

careless false foolish heedless idiotic inaccurate inattentive incautious inconsiderate indiscreet inexact irrational lax loose negligent questionable rash reckless thoughtless uncareful uncaring unscrupulous unwise

WEAK

unconcerned

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Ms. Arnold packs a sometimes dizzying amount of detail into this slim volume, balancing a deep interest in her subject with a careful respect for these unfortunate ships and their passengers and crew.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

The benefit depended on careful measurement and personalization.

From Science Daily • May 22, 2026

You have to be careful and check there hasn't been any sewage discharge on the day or soon before and you should be fine but there will always be a baseline level of pollution.

From BBC • May 21, 2026

All of which means that careful stock-picking that focuses on local consumer-driven businesses should pay off in India.

From Barron's • May 20, 2026

I’m careful to wipe the excess from the brush before I place it at the base of her nail and drag it up toward me.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Vocabulary lists containing careful

"Earthquake"

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Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"

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Unit 9

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