leery

1
[ leer-ee ]
See synonyms for leery on Thesaurus.com
adjective,leer·i·er, leer·i·est.
  1. wary; suspicious (usually followed by of): I'm leery of his financial advice.

  2. Archaic. knowing; alert.

Origin of leery

1
First recorded in 1790–1800; leer1 + -y1
  • Sometimes lear·y .

Other words from leery

  • leer·i·ly, adverb
  • leer·i·ness, noun

Other definitions for leery (2 of 2)

leery2
[ leer-ee ]

adjective,leer·i·er, leer·i·est.

Origin of leery

2

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for leery

leery

leary

/ (ˈlɪərɪ) /


adjectiveleerier, leeriest, learier or leariest
  1. mainly dialect knowing or sly

  2. slang (foll by of) suspicious or wary

  1. slang rowdy or boisterous

Origin of leery

1
C18: perhaps from obsolete sense (to look askance) of leer

Derived forms of leery

  • leeriness or leariness, noun

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