cautiously

adverb

Definition of cautiouslynext
as in deliberately

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cautiously The Panthers — normally among the NFL’s most aggressive teams on fourth down — also played this one cautiously for much of the way, trying to make McKee have to go 80-plus yards every possession. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 18 Oct. 2026 Alex Wong/Getty Images Polls and pundits alike are widely — if sometimes cautiously — predicting a blue wave in the midterm elections on November 3. — Jacob Brogan, Vox, 17 Oct. 2026 But agency heads, especially those who sit on bipartisan boards or commissions, cannot completely ignore Democratic lawmakers, and may move cautiously on very contentious issues, said executives. — Reuters, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2026 While those producers who spoke to Variety were cautiously optimistic that the industry has finally turned the page, there remains much work to be done. — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026 Resident Kitty McGowan remains cautiously optimistic about the neighborhood's defense against flooding. — Ted Scouten, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026 But don’t count on the administration to continue so cautiously after the midterms. — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2026 Still, Andersen is only cautiously optimistic about the future. — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026 Many former Soviet states in Central Asia have cautiously moved out of Russia’s orbit. — The Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cautiously
  1. deliberately
  2. carefully
  3. slowly
Adverb
  • God seems deliberately to have created variety and cognitive function in the human species.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Investigators were trying to determine Wednesday whether the robot's actions were deliberately controlled by two young men who apparently livestreamed the incident in the western city of Cologne on social media.
    — October 14, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of deliberately
Adverb
  • Just be sure to check your plants carefully for pests, like scale, before bringing them back inside in fall.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Families with children should also check carefully that the kids meet the ride’s height and restraint requirements, which are designed to ensure that the safety equipment fits correctly.
    — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of carefully
Adverb
  • What changed second, more slowly, was trust, which had to be built one decision at a time.
    — Ken Paskins, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The company said a self-copying AI built on small models would spread slowly, with the number of infected devices doubling every few days, but would be hard to stamp out once loose.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of slowly

Browse Nearby Words

cautious
cautiously
cautiousness
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Cite this Entry

“Cautiously.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cautiously. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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