careful

1 of 2

adjective

care·​ful ˈker-fəl How to pronounce careful (audio)
carefuller; carefullest
Synonyms of careful
1
a
: marked by wary caution or prudence
be very careful with knives
b
: marked by attentive concern and solicitude
careful farm management
c
: marked by painstaking effort to avoid errors or omissions
—often used with of or an infinitive
careful of money
careful to adjust the machine
2
: exercising or taking care
careful of a child's welfare
3
archaic
a
: solicitous, anxious
b
: filling with care or solicitude
carefully
ˈker-f(ə-)lē How to pronounce careful (audio)
adverb
carefulness
ˈker-fəl-nəs How to pronounce careful (audio)
noun

carefulness

2 of 2

noun

care·​ful·​ness ˈker-fəl-nəs How to pronounce carefulness (audio)
plural -es
: the quality of being careful : close or steady attention (as to a task) : caution, heed, foresight

Synonyms of careful

Relevance

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for careful

careful, meticulous, scrupulous, punctilious mean showing close attention to detail.

careful implies attentiveness and cautiousness in avoiding mistakes.

a careful worker

meticulous may imply either commendable extreme carefulness or a hampering finicky caution over small points.

meticulous scholarship

scrupulous applies to what is proper or fitting or ethical.

scrupulous honesty

punctilious implies minute, even excessive attention to fine points.

punctilious observance of ritual

Examples of careful in a Sentence

Adjective He is a careful driver. You can never be too careful about these things. Be careful! The stove is hot! She was careful of their feelings. The police were careful to leave the room exactly as they found it. Police made a careful examination of the scene. They produced a careful study of the building.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
Brad Cantu of the Fort Worth Police Department added that careful collection of DNA and other evidence not only supports police investigations, but gives victims the knowledge that their case is being taken seriously. — Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026 While each can serve a purpose in the right circumstances, long-term investors should be careful before making any of them a core part of an investment allocation. — Daniel Kern, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026 While the Doctor always regenerates, the sci-fi series is over 60-years-old and needs careful management to sustain fandom between TV outings. — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 26 Oct. 2026 Both policies have limitations, and residency requirements and emergency coverage deserve careful review. — Lance B. Fulford, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for careful

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see care entry 1

Noun

Middle English, from Old English carfulnes, from carful + -nes -ness

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Time Traveler
The first known use of careful was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing careful

Rhymes for careful

See All Rhymes for careful

Browse Nearby Words

carefree
careful
carefully
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Careful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/careful. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

careful

adjective
care·​ful ˈke(ə)r-fəl How to pronounce careful (audio)
ˈka(ə)r-
1
: using care : watchful
a careful driver
2
: made, done, or said with care
a careful examination
carefully
-f(ə-)lē How to pronounce careful (audio)
adverb
carefulness
-fəl-nəs How to pronounce careful (audio)
noun
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