leery

/'liəri/

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The word "leery" is an adjective used to describe someone who is suspicious, cautious, or not trusting of something or someone. If a person is leery, they are careful and may not want to believe or accept what is being said or offered to them.

Usage Instructions

• How to Use: You can use "leery" to describe a person’s feelings or attitudes toward a situation, a person, or an idea. It often implies that the person has doubts or worries about potential danger or deception.
• Sentence Structure: Typically, you would use "leery" followed by "of" or "about." For example:
  • "She was leery of the strange man in the park."
  • "He is leery about investing in the new business venture."

Example Sentences

1. After hearing the sales pitch, I was leery of making a purchase.
2. The dog was leery of the new visitor at the door.

Advanced Usage

In more complex writing or conversation, you might use "leery" in a context where someone's distrust is justified. For example: - "Given the history of scams in the area, residents are understandably leery of unsolicited phone calls."

Word Variants

• Leeryness (noun): The quality of being leery.
  • Example: "Her leeryness about the deal was evident."

Different Meanings

"Leery" primarily means distrustful, but it can also imply being cautious about something that seems too good to be true.

Synonyms

Some synonyms for "leery" include: - Suspicious - Wary - Cautious - Distrustful - Skeptical

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

While "leery" doesn’t have specific idioms or phrasal verbs associated directly with it, you can combine it with other phrases: - "Leery of the fine print" could mean being cautious about the details of a contract or agreement.

Conclusion

In summary, if someone is leery, they are hesitant, cautious, and not fully trusting.

Academic

Adjective

1. openly distrustful and unwilling to confide

Synonyms

• mistrustful
• suspicious
• untrusting
• wary