leery

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "leery" is correct and usable in written English.
It means "suspicious or distrustful". Example sentence: After he was cheated out of money, he was leery of any further investments.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Smaller parties might be leery of striking deals if the result could be portrayed as "a coalition of the losers".

The Guardian

The officers were expected to figure out how to interact with gang members and residents long leery of the police, and turn in high arrest numbers while receiving little guidance.

The Guardian

Perhaps this timidity stems from the intense scrutiny of their widely held shares, making them leery about paying too much for foreign acquisitions.

The Economist

With a banking system leery of derivatives and relatively isolated from the rest of the world, Italy did not suffer disaster of the sort that brought financial institutions crashing to the ground in America and Britain.

The Economist

Europe's banks, laden with bad debts and forced by new prudential rules to hold more capital against corporate loans, will remain leery of fiddly, risky loans to SMEs.Small firms' woes have not escaped detection.

The Economist

The high prices of recent years are partly a legacy of that glut, insofar as OPEC, still leery of over-investment, allowed its cushion of spare capacity to dwindle to almost nothing, heightening supply concerns.Unfortunately for oil consumers, OPEC has little incentive to expand that cushion in the short term.

The Economist

It is full of such cheery stories on agricultural biotechnology as "Starving Africans leery of GM food".Greenpeace has now extended its presence in China from its headquarters in Hong Kong to an office in Beijing.

The Economist

Bond yields in Italy and Spain have already plunged in recent weeks, in anticipation of the ECB's action, as investors have become leery of betting against the central bank (see article).

The Economist

The most successful emerging economies have built up huge stashes of foreign currency; many are leery of depending too much on foreign borrowing.

The Economist

We can see that now in the seafood industry; the FDA has approved the catch as safe, and yesterday the last affected fisheries were reopened, but fishermen and restaurateurs say that diners are still leery.

The Economist

That way you will also put paid to all those tiresome (and potentially dangerous) offers of pre-approved credit cards.Be especially leery of e-mail messages purporting to be from banks, stores or government agencies that ask for personal information.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "leery" to express a sense of caution or hesitation based on prior experience or a perceived threat. It implies a reasoned reservation, not just a general dislike.

Common error

Don't use "leery" when a stronger word like "afraid" or "terrified" is more appropriate. "Leery" suggests mild suspicion or caution, not intense fear.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "leery" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe someone or something that is cautious, hesitant, or suspicious. Ludwig AI confirms this adjective usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "leery" functions as an adjective, signifying caution, suspicion, or hesitation towards something or someone. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and common appearance in various contexts. It is important to note that "leery" implies a reasoned reservation rather than intense fear, making it suitable for expressing mild skepticism or unease. As seen through the many examples that Ludwig provides, this word is very common in "News & Media". Be mindful of using alternatives such as "wary" or "suspicious" to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wary

Focuses on being cautious of potential dangers or problems.

suspicious

Emphasizes a distrustful feeling that something is wrong.

distrustful

Highlights a lack of trust in someone or something.

cautious

Stresses the need for carefulness and circumspection.

hesitant

Indicates a reluctance or pause before acting due to uncertainty.

guarded

Suggests a cautious and reserved approach to avoid vulnerability.

skeptical

Implies doubt about the truth or validity of something.

apprehensive

Focuses on anxiety or fear that something bad might happen.

on guard

Highlights a state of vigilance and readiness for potential threats.

chary

Indicates a careful and reluctant approach, often due to past experiences.

FAQs

How to use "leery" in a sentence?

You can use "leery" to describe someone who is cautious or suspicious of something. For example, "I'm "leery of" deals that seem too good to be true."

What can I say instead of "leery"?

You can use alternatives like "wary", "suspicious", or "distrustful", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "leery of" or "leery about"?

"Leery of" is generally more common, but "leery about" is also acceptable. The choice often depends on personal preference and the specific context.

What's the difference between "leery" and "skeptical"?

"Leery" implies caution or hesitation based on potential danger or deception, while "skeptical" suggests doubt about the truth or validity of something. You might be "leery" of a dark alley and "skeptical" of a politician's promises.