Word of The Day: Circumspect

cir·cum·spect

 adjective \ˈsər-k^əm-ˌspekt\

: thinking carefully about possible risks before doing or saying something

:  careful to consider all circumstances and possible consequences :  prudent <diplomacy required a circumspectresponse>

— cir·cum·spec·tion  noun

— cir·cum·spect·ly  adverb

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Examples of CIRCUMSPECT

1. <she has a reputation for being quiet and circumspect in investigating charges of child abuse>

Origin of CIRCUMSPECT

Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle Frenchcirconspect, from Latin circumspectus, from past participle ofcircumspicere to look around, be cautious, from circum- +specere to look — more at spy

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to CIRCUMSPECT

Synonyms

alert, cautious, chary, careful, conservative, considerate,gingerly, guarded, heedful, safe, wary

Antonyms

careless, heedless, incautious, unguarded, unmindful,unsafe, unwary

Related Words

advertent, attentive, awake, observant, regardful, vigilant,watchful; hypercautious; foresighted, foresightful,forethoughtful, provident, thoughtful; cagey (also cagy),calculating, canny, shrewd; deliberate, slow; ultracareful,ultracautious

Near Antonyms

bold, brash, impetuous, rash, reckless, venturesome;asleep, inattentive, regardless; inconsiderate, thoughtless;lax, neglectful, negligent, remiss; imprudent, indiscreet,injudicious; absentminded, forgetful; inadvertent,unintentional, unplanned

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See Synonym Discussion at cautious

Rhymes with CIRCUMSPECT

acrolect, architect, birth defect, deselect, dialect, disaffect,disconnect, disinfect, disrespect, edge effect, genuflect,grapholect, in...

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Learn More About CIRCUMSPECT

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "circumspect"

Spanish Central Translation: "circumspect" in Spanish

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