unwary

adjective

un·​wary ˌən-ˈwer-ē How to pronounce unwary (audio)
: not alert : easily fooled or surprised : heedless, gullible
cheats unwary tourists
unwarily adverb
unwariness noun

Examples of unwary in a Sentence

The fast-moving tide sometimes surprises unwary swimmers. e-mail scams that take advantage of unwary recipients
Recent Examples on the Web Despite signage and barricades intended to direct pedestrians and bicycles away from the closed canal bank, some unwary types continue along the restricted area. Trilce Estrada Olvera, The Arizona Republic, 15 Feb. 2024 Together, the unwary helper and its passenger travel in search of a new host, where the viral drama will unfold again. The Conversation, Scientific American, 14 Nov. 2023 That’s because the agency’s duty is to stand in the way of businesses desiring to push unsafe and ineffective nostrums at unwary consumers, and also in the way of a perverse idea that personal freedom includes the freedom to be gulled by charlatans. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2023 For the flytrap, the very leaves that snap shut and ensnare unwary prey also trap sunlight for use in the photosynthetic process. Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 5 Sep. 2023 What bothers them are lenders who exploit the needy and unwary through excessive charges. Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2023 The spines provide the lizard with a formidable defense against would-be predators and any unwary scientist wanting to take a closer look. Discover Magazine, 7 Dec. 2017 Sailors have spun yarns for centuries about gigantic rogue waves that could suddenly come out of nowhere to capsize the ships of unwary mariners. Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 14 June 2023 The fact that Fisher’s new address forces unwary visitors to perform a three-point turn on a narrow country lane and then retrace their route, craning their necks to spot a lengthy driveway that loops around to the correct entrance, is an ancillary benefit. Nicola Twilley, The New Yorker, 22 Nov. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unwary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unwary was in 1579

Dictionary Entries Near unwary

Cite this Entry

“Unwary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unwary. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

unwary

adjective
un·​wary ˌən-ˈwa(ə)r-ē How to pronounce unwary (audio)
-ˈwe(ə)r-,
ˈən-
: not alert : easily fooled or surprised : heedless, gullible
the unwary buyer
unwarily
-ˈwar-ə-lē How to pronounce unwary (audio)
-ˈwer-
adverb
unwariness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on unwary

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