leery
UK /ˈlɪəɹi/ · US /ˈlɪɚi/ adjective
Forms leerier leeriest leary
- adjective Cautious, suspicious, wary, hesitant, or nervous about something; having reservations or concerns. “Since he was bitten by a dog when he was young, he has always been leery of animals.”
- adjective (UK, obsolete, slang) Sly; artful; knowing.
- adjective (of a look or smile) Leering; lecherous or unpleasant.
Synonyms
Etymology
First attested in 1718, “untrustful, suspicious”, either from leer (“sideward look”) + -y, lear (“learning, knowledge”) + -y. More at leer, lear.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 — from the Wiktionary entry “leery”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details