UNWARY Synonyms: 136 Similar and Opposite Words

unwary

adjective

ˌən-ˈwer-ē

Definition of unwary

as in naive

lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment e-mail scams that take advantage of unwary recipients

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in careless

not paying or showing close attention especially for the purpose of avoiding trouble a dangerous stretch of desert that has claimed many unwary travelers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in susceptible

readily taken advantage of unwary consumers who unquestioningly swallow the dubious claims of TV pitchmen

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 unwary Some legal experts said the outcome could lead unwary retirement investors to receive investment advice that's not in their best interest, and cause confusion about the legal obligations that brokers, insurance agents and other financial intermediaries owe to retail investors. — Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 30 Mar. 2026 That can create a trap for unwary taxpayers because the law requires taxpayers to sue for a refund within two years of the IRS disallowing it. — Tom Cullinan, Forbes.com, 20 Feb. 2026 Rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have given fraudsters a host of new tools to trick unwary individuals into dishonest schemes. — Ranjita Iyer, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025 That’s because the agency’s duty is to stand in the way of businesses desiring to push unsafe and ineffective nostrums at unwary consumers, and also in the way of a perverse idea that personal freedom includes the freedom to be gulled by charlatans. — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unwary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwary

Adjective

Sutskever is portrayed as the idealistic, naive hero — the ingenious mind behind the lab’s entire existence who can’t stomach lying and is reluctant to accumulate any power.

— Hayden Field, The Verge, 8 Oct. 2026
Rebecca and Verity, which stars Johnson, are also about a new, naïve lover entering the home of a bad man with a wife hidden in his house of horrors.

— Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of naive

Adjective

Josh Hoover may have been a bit careless, but every game TCU has played this season is another painful example how badly both his old school, and coach, miss him.

— Mac Engel October 14, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2026
Red Raiders quarterback Will Hammond can be careless with the football, throwing three interceptions against Sam Houston last weekend and posting five picks in four games.

— Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of careless

Adjective

Tom describes himself as uniquely susceptible to this kind of stimulation, something that Kenny, the Mount Sinai neuroscientist, says may have some credence.

— Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
The United States also has a uniquely large and diverse economy that is far less susceptible to shocks than many of its smaller peers.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of susceptible

Adjective

Airscope lets scientists record brain activity at the cellular level even when multiple animals move and interact naturally, making real-world neuroscience experiments much easier.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
Their contracts can run hundreds of pages, making harmful terms easy to bury.

— Emma Witman, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of easy

Adjective

As Cohen is best known for playing characters like Ali G, Borat and Brüno in the real world while interacting with unsuspecting people, the interview focuses on the craft behind his brand of undercover comedy and the objectives of his satire.

— Selome Hailu, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
What powers Nordrum’s lovesick devotion is the gradual and unsuspecting rise in chemistry between his Brandon and Creed-Miles’ Marianne.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of unsuspecting

Adjective

Van Lemaster, 88, was booked into the Larimer County Jail on charges of vehicular homicide, vehicular assault, and reckless endangerment on Friday.

— Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
In 2016, Zelich pled guilty to first-degree reckless homicide in the death of Gamez and one count of hiding a corpse.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of reckless

Browse Nearby Words

unwarranted

unwary

unwashed

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“Unwary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwary. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of unwary

adjective

Example Sentences

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