Leery

Quick meaning: Leery is an adjective meaning Cautious, suspicious, wary, hesitant, or nervous about something; having reservations or concerns.

Meaning

Cautious, suspicious, wary, hesitant, or nervous about something; having reservations or concerns.

More Meanings

1. (UK, obsolete, slang) Sly; artful; knowing.
2. (of a look or smile) Leering; lecherous or unpleasant.

Example Sentences

Since he was bitten by a dog when he was young, he has always been leery of animals.

And there was a particularly brutal villain with leery eyes, ugly mouth, with one tooth gone, and an iron jaw like a hull-dog's.

“[…]He was one of their top gun-fighters—always up to his ears in the thick of any fightin' that was goin' on. He never was leery of anything on two feet, I'll say that much for'm.”

“He's so darn afraid you'll be offended if he smokes. You scare him. Every time he speaks of the weather you jump him because he ain't talking about poetry or Gertie—Goethe?—or some other highbrow junk. You've got him so leery he scarcely dares to come here.”

Word Forms

• leerier
• leeriest

Synonyms for leery

Depending on context, synonyms include wary, distrustful, suspicious, mistrustful, untrusting.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include suspicious, distrustful, mistrustful, untrusting, wary, fearful.

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