Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words (original) (raw)

View synonyms for leery

adjective

, leer·i·er, leer·i·est.

1. wary; suspicious (usually followed by of ):
   I'm leery of his financial advice.

adjective

, leer·i·er, leer·i·est.

/ ˈlɪərɪ /

adjective

1. dialect.
2. slang.
   foll by of suspicious or wary
3. slang.

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Derived Forms

• ˈleeriness, noun

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Other Words From

• leeri·ly adverb
• leeri·ness noun

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Word History and Origins

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Word History and Origins

Origin of leery1

C18: perhaps from obsolete sense (to look askance) of

leer

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Example Sentences

It’s a major non-Nato ally and has been leery of Russian influence in Algeria, Libya and the Sahel - adding up to a mix that would be stirred if Trump cuts deals with Putin.

The American right has always been leery of universities.

Officials raised the salaries for city-sanctioned gang interventionists to $60,000 a year, but some police officers remain leery of working too closely with outreach workers who still have one foot in the street life.

Some rank-and-file police officers remain leery of working too closely with outreach workers who still have one foot in the street life.

With the transfer portal and name, image and likeness money spawning bidding wars for college athletes, some coaches are leery of sending players to the Cape for fear they will be poached by other schools.