Careful Definition & Meaning

careful
adjective
  1. exercising caution or showing care or attention; "they were careful when crossing the busy street"; "be careful to keep her shoes clean"; "did very careful research"; "careful art restorers"; "careful of the rights of others"; "careful about one's behavior"
  2. cautiously attentive; "careful of her feelings"; "heedful of his father's advice"
  3. unhurried and with care and dignity; "walking at the same measured pace"; "with all deliberate speed"
  4. full of cares or anxiety; "Thou art careful and troubled about many things"-Luke 10.41
  5. mindful of the future in spending money; "careful with money"

Synonyms for careful

aware adj

(sometimes followed by `of') having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception

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cautious adj

showing careful forethought; "reserved and cautious; never making swift decisions"; "a cautious driver" avoiding excess

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certain adj

definite but not specified or identified; "set aside a certain sum each week"; "to a certain degree

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close adv

near in time or place or relationship; "as the wedding day drew near"; "stood near the door

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conscientious adj

characterized by extreme care and great effort; "conscientious application to the work at hand"; "painstaking research

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deliberate adj

carefully thought out in advance; "a calculated insult"; "with measured irony" unhurried and with care and dignity

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detailed adj

developed or executed with care and in minute detail; "a detailed plan

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elaborate adj

marked by complexity and richness of detail

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elaborated adj

developed or executed with care and in minute detail; "a detailed plan

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heedful adj

taking heed; giving close and thoughtful attention; "heedful of the warnings"; "so heedful a writer

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"Careful" in song lyrics

See how careful is used in real songs:

  • "You guys better be careful"
    9th Prince f/ Paradox, Tommy Whispers, Trife Da God — Street Pharmacists
  • "You know the ave. is snitching, God, be careful"
    Ancient Coins — The Snitch
  • "the doctor said be careful"
    Anti-Pop Consortium — Focused

Words that rhyme with careful

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Usage tips for "careful"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "careful" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for careful to find words that pair well.

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♫ Rhymes with careful ↔ Synonyms for careful 🔬 Words containing careful

Frequently asked questions

What does careful mean?
exercising caution or showing care or attention; "they were careful when crossing the busy street"; "be careful to keep her shoes clean"; "did very careful research"; "careful art restorers"; "careful of the rights of others"; "careful about one's behavior" cautiously attentive; "careful of her feelings"; "heedful of his father's advice" unhurried and with care and dignity; "walking at the same measured pace"; "with all deliberate speed" full of cares or anxiety
What part of speech is careful?
Careful is an adjective.
How many definitions does careful have?
Careful has 5 definitions across 1 part of speech (adjective).

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