less wary

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less wary" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing someone who is not as cautious or suspicious as they might typically be in a given situation. Example: "After hearing the reassurances from the team, she felt less wary about the project's potential risks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

None of this will make Strachan any less wary.

The Guardian - Sport

And del Toro was now less wary of making digital monsters.

The New Yorker

Immigrant leaders, especially Hispanics, embraced it, becoming less wary of the police.

The New York Times

But other leaders seem less wary about celebrating suicide for the cause.

The New York Times

But mindfulness can help reduce our negativity bias and consequently help us to be less wary of negative social encounters.

University of California, Berkeley

This helps explain why teens seek out highly stimulating and rewarding activities while seeming less wary of potential risks.

Harvard University

They are no less wary of what the government could do with such data.

The New York Times

The social circles in the burbs are more arbitrary and less wary.

The New York Times - Magazine

As time goes on, they've become less wary of the wider world.

The Guardian - Music

As the hours passed, Tyson grew less wary and more at ease about saying what was on his mind.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Whereas at an event, it could tend towards the impulse side" -- more flashy, less wary of giving offense, he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "less wary" when you want to indicate a reduction in caution due to increased familiarity, trust, or improved circumstances. For example: "After several successful collaborations, the companies became less wary of each other."

Common error

Don't use "less wary" when you mean "unwary". "Less wary" indicates a reduction in wariness, while "unwary" suggests a complete lack of caution. For example, use "less wary" when caution is diminished, but use "unwary" when there is no caution at all.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less wary" functions as an adjectival modifier, describing a state of reduced caution or suspicion. Ludwig examples show its utility in portraying a shift in attitude or behavior from a state of watchfulness to one of relative ease.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

19%

Science

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "less wary" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that describes a reduction in caution or suspicion. Ludwig AI confirms that it is used across a range of contexts, including news, academia, and scientific writing. While semantically close alternatives such as "more trusting" and "less cautious" exist, they carry slightly different nuances. It's important to distinguish "less wary" from "unwary", as the latter suggests a complete absence of caution, unlike "less wary" that denotes a reduction, according to Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less cautious

Direct synonym, indicating a reduced level of carefulness or prudence.

less guarded

Highlights a reduction in protective behavior, suggesting increased vulnerability or trust.

less suspicious

Highlights a decrease in doubt or mistrust, related to but more specific than general wariness.

less apprehensive

Implies a reduction in anxiety or fear, leading to a decrease in cautiousness.

more trusting

Indicates a higher degree of confidence in someone or something, contrasting with the guarded nature implied by "less wary".

more comfortable

Suggests an increased sense of ease, diminishing the need for caution or vigilance.

more open

Suggests a greater willingness to accept new ideas or experiences, diverging from the cautious stance of "less wary".

more confident

Implies an increase in self-assurance, leading to a decrease in caution.

more receptive

Denotes a greater willingness to receive or accept something, suggesting a lessening of initial hesitation.

more assured

Focuses on a feeling of certainty that reduces the need for vigilance.

FAQs

How can I use "less wary" in a sentence?

You can use "less wary" to describe a decrease in caution or suspicion. For instance, "After the initial shock, the public became "less wary" of the new technology".

What are some alternatives to "less wary"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "more trusting", "less cautious", or "less suspicious".

Is it better to use "less wary" or "more trusting"?

The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. "Less wary" emphasizes a reduction in caution, while "more trusting" emphasizes an increase in confidence. Choose "less wary" if you want to emphasize the decrease in caution, otherwise, if you want to put emphasis on a boost of confidence, then "more trusting" may be more appropriate.

Can "less wary" be used to describe objects or only people?

"Less wary" typically describes people or entities capable of experiencing caution or suspicion. While it can be metaphorically applied to objects (e.g., "the market became "less wary" of the stock"), it's more common to see it used in relation to sentient beings.