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 his personal experience made him chary, too.

From The New Yorker ● Dec. 31, 2018

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

They exhausted Sid, they exhausted Ann, and Kipps was chary of his riches.

From Kipps The Story of a Simple Soul by H. G. (Herbert George) Wells

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

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

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

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