Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [leer-ee]
- /ˈlɪər i/
- /ˈlɪə.ri/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [leer-ee]
- /ˈlɪər i/
Definitions of leery word
- abbreviation LEERY leer2 . 1
- noun leery Cautious or wary due to realistic suspicions. 1
- adjective leery wary, not trusting 1
- adjective leery If you are leery of something, you are cautious and suspicious about it and try to avoid it. 0
- adjective leery If someone looks or smiles at you in a leery way, they look or smile at you in an unpleasant way, usually because they are sexually interested in you. 0
- adjective leery knowing or sly 0
Information block about the term
Origin of leery
First appearance:
before 1790 One of the 43% newest English words
First recorded in 1790-1800; leer1 + -y1
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Leery
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
leery popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 79% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
leery usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for leery
adj leery
- distrustful — unable or unwilling to trust; doubtful; suspicious: An alert scientist is distrustful of coincidences.
- skeptical — doubtful about a particular thing: My teacher thinks I can get a scholarship, but I'm skeptical.
- cautious — Someone who is cautious acts very carefully in order to avoid possible danger.
- uncertain — not definitely ascertainable or fixed, as in time of occurrence, number, dimensions, or quality.
- wary — watchful; being on one's guard against danger.
adjective leery
- suspicious — tending to cause or excite suspicion; questionable: suspicious behavior.
- doubting — Present participle of doubt.
- doubtful — of uncertain outcome or result.
- circumspect — If you are circumspect, you are cautious in what you do and say and do not take risks.
- skittish — apt to start or shy: a skittish horse.
Antonyms for leery
adj leery
- believing — to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so: Only if one believes in something can one act purposefully.
- heedless — careless; thoughtless; unmindful: Heedless of the danger, he returned to the burning building to save his dog.
- incautious — not cautious; careless; reckless; heedless.
- rash — acting or tending to act too hastily or without due consideration.
- unwary — not wary; not cautious or watchful, as against danger or misfortune.
adjective leery
- confident — If you are confident about something, you are certain that it will happen in the way you want it to.
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