wary
adj.adj. feeling or showing that you are worried about a possible danger or problem. You use this when you are careful because you do not fully trust someone or something.
adj. feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems. Often followed by the preposition 'of' or 'about' to indicate the source of suspicion.
You should be wary of emails from people you do not know.
The cat was wary of the new puppy and watched it closely from the top of the sofa.
Investors remained wary of the volatile market, choosing to keep their capital in gold rather than risk it on fluctuating tech stocks during the economic downturn.
From the adjective ware + -y.
From Middle English warien, from Old English wierġan (“to curse, do evil”), from Proto-West Germanic wargijan, from Proto-Germanic wargijaną (“to condemn, curse”), from Proto-Germanic *wargaz (“criminal”). Doublet of warry.
Typically follows a linking verb like 'be', 'become', or 'remain'. Frequently takes the preposition 'of' before a noun phrase.