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leary

/'liəri/
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The word "leary" is often used as an adjective in informal English, but it can also refer to a specific person in history.

Basic Meaning

"Leary," when used as an adjective, means to be cautious, suspicious, or wary of something. If someone is "leary" of a situation, it means they feel unsure about it and are careful because they think it might not be safe or trustworthy.

Usage Instructions

You can use "leary" to describe someone’s feelings or attitudes toward a person, situation, or idea. It is usually followed by "of" when mentioning what someone is cautious about.

Example
  • "She was leary of trying the new restaurant because she read some bad reviews."
  • "He felt leary of investing in that company after hearing some negative news."
Advanced Usage

In more complex sentences, you might see "leary" used to describe a person’s mindset or a group’s attitude toward a broader issue. For example: - "The community was leary of the proposed changes to the local school system, fearing they would not benefit the students."

Word Variants

The word "leary" does not have many direct variants since it is more informal. However, you might encounter it in different forms or contexts, such as: - "Leary" (adjective) - "Leary-eyed" (adjective, meaning to look suspicious)

Different Meanings

While "leary" primarily means cautious or wary, it is also important to note that it can refer to Timothy Leary, a famous psychologist known for his experiments with drugs like LSD and advocating their use in the 1960s. He is a historical figure, and his last name is often mentioned in discussions about drug culture.

Synonyms

Some synonyms for "leary" (as cautious or suspicious) include: - Wary - Cautious - Skeptical - Suspicious

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

While there are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that directly include "leary," you can express similar ideas with phrases like: - "On the fence" (unsure or undecided) - "Keep your guard up" (remain cautious)

Summary

In summary, "leary" describes a feeling of caution or suspicion about something.

Noun
  1. United States psychologist who experimented with psychoactive drugs (including LSD) and became a well-known advocate of their use (1920-1996)

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