careful synonyms

careful

modif.

meticulous, thorough, painstaking, scrupulous, cautious, wary, circumspect, discreet, solicitous, concerned, deliberate, provident, conservative, prudent, particular, rigorous, fussy, finicky, prim, exacting, sober, vigilant, watchful, suspicious, alert, wide-awake, assiduous, overexact, fastidious, hard to please, discriminating, sure-footed, precise, exact, heedful, on one's guard, on guard, on the alert, conscientious, taking measures, politic, attentive, calculating, sparing, regardful, considerate, mindful, canny, guarded, noncommittal, self-possessed, self-disciplined, solid, cool, calm, farsighted, frugal, thrifty, punctilious, religious, stealthy, observant, chary, apprehensive, judicious, leery*, choosy*, picky*, feeling one's way*, feeling one's ground*, seeing how the land lies*, putting the right foot forward*, keeping a nose to the wind*, picking one's steps*, making haste slowly*, going to great lengths*, leaving no margin for error; see also accurate 2, economical 1, thoughtful 2.

Antonyms heedless, careless*, haphazard.

careful implies close attention to or great concern for whatever is one's work or responsibility, and usually connotes thoroughness, a guarding against error or injury, etc.; meticulous implies extreme, sometimes finicky, carefulness about details; scrupulous implies a conscientious adherence to what is considered right, true, accurate, or proper in every detail; circumspect implies a careful consideration of all circumstances to avoid error or unfavorable consequences; cautious implies a careful guarding against possible dangers or risks; prudent implies the exercise of both caution and circumspection, suggesting careful management in economic and practical matters; discreet implies the exercise of discernment and judgment in the guidance of one's speech and action and suggests careful restraint; wary implies a cautiousness that is prompted by suspicion

Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.