Standard Lemma guide

unwary

adj · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • rhymes with -ɛəɹi
  • CMU ARPABET: AH0 N W EH1 R IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Lacking caution as a result of naïveté or inexperience.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Unprepared; not watchful.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective

Meaning 3

not alert to danger or deception- O.J.Campbell

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the shrieks of unwary animals taken by surprise
  • some thieves prey especially on unwary travelers
  • seduce the unwary reader into easy acquiescence

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: wary

History

Etymology

From un- + wary. Compare Old English unwær (“unaware, unwary”) and unwærlīċ (“unwary, heedless”).

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: непредпазлив (nepredpazliv) — lacking caution
  • Georgian: წინდაუხედავი (c̣indauxedavi) — lacking caution
  • Georgian: დაუდევარი (daudevari) — lacking caution
  • German: unbedarft — lacking caution
  • German: unachtsam — lacking caution
  • German: unvorsichtig — lacking caution
  • Irish: anfhaiteach — lacking caution
  • Italian: incauto — lacking caution
  • Manx: neuhwoaieagh — lacking caution
  • Manx: neuarreydagh — lacking caution
  • Manx: neuhastagh — lacking caution
  • Māori: hautāruru — lacking caution
  • Spanish: incauto — lacking caution
  • Māori: hautāruru — unprepared