chary
adjective
[ ˈtʃɛːri ]
• cautiously or suspiciously reluctant to do something.
• "she had been chary of telling the whole truth"
Similar:
wary,
cautious,
circumspect,
heedful,
careful,
on one's guard,
guarded,
mindful,
watchful,
distrustful,
mistrustful,
doubtful,
sceptical,
suspicious,
dubious,
hesitant,
reluctant,
disinclined,
loath,
averse,
shy,
nervous,
apprehensive,
uneasy,
afraid,
leery,
cagey,
iffy,
on one's toes,
Origin:
Old English cearig ‘sorrowful, anxious’, of West Germanic origin; related to care. The current sense arose in the mid 16th century.
