Meanings
adjectiveunwary (comparative unwarier, superlative unwariest)
comparative unwarier · superlative unwariest
- Lacking caution as a result of naïveté or inexperience.
- Unprepared; not watchful.
Synonyms & antonyms
Similar
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
From un- + wary. Compare Old English unwær (“unaware, unwary”) and unwærlīċ (“unwary, heedless”).
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian непредпазлив
- непредпазлив (nepredpazliv)lacking caution
German unbedarft, unachtsam
- unbedarftlacking caution
- unachtsamlacking caution
- unvorsichtiglacking caution
Irish anfhaiteach
- anfhaiteachlacking caution
Italian incauto
- incautolacking caution
Māori hautāruru, hautāruru
- hautārurulacking caution
- hautāruruunprepared
Spanish incauto
- incautolacking caution
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with unwary
maryvaryhairyordinaryprairieCareyscaryburycarycanarywaryairywiktionarynarybearypearyeyriecharybilingual dictionarydot and carryfairywrenféerieflaryglairy
All rhymes →Anagrams
Cite this entry
APA
unwary. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unwary
MLA
“unwary.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unwary. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “unwary,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unwary.
Source: unwary on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.