Gingerly — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective adverb /ˈjin-jər-lē/ gin·ger·ly

Meaning & Definition of Gingerly

Gingerly (adjective)

  1. very cautious or careful

Gingerly (adverb)

  1. with extreme care concerning the result of a movement or action, very cautiously and carefully

Gingerly (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble

    "gave the cork on the bottle of champagne a gingerly twist"

    similar: alert, careful, cautious, chary, circumspect, conservative, considerate, guarded, heedful, safe, wary
    related: advertent, attentive, awake, observant, regardful, vigilant, watchful, hypercautious, foresighted, foresightful, forethoughtful, provident, thoughtful, cagey, calculating, canny, shrewd, deliberate, slow, ultracareful, ultracautious
    opposite: careless, heedless, incautious, unguarded, unmindful, unsafe, unwary
    near: bold, brash, impetuous, rash, reckless, venturesome, asleep, inattentive, regardless, inconsiderate, thoughtless, lax, neglectful, negligent, remiss, imprudent, indiscreet, injudicious, absentminded, forgetful, inadvertent, unintentional, unplanned

Gingerly (adverb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in carefully, meticulously

    similar: carefully, formally, meticulously, orderly, punctiliously, methodically, systematically, deliberately, intentionally, purposefully, purposely
    opposite: aimlessly, anyhow, anyway, anywise, desultorily, erratically, haphazard, haphazardly, helter-skelter, hit or miss, irregularly, randomly, willy-nilly, arbitrarily, capriciously, carelessly, casually, indiscriminately, informally, offhand, offhandedly, promiscuously, whimsically, accidentally, fortuitously, inadvertently, unconsciously, unintentionally, unwittingly

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Gingerly

The most common words with a similar meaning to Gingerly:

alert, careful, cautious, chary, circumspect, conservative, considerate, guarded, heedful, safe, wary, carefully, formally, meticulously, orderly, punctiliously, methodically, systematically, deliberately, intentionally, purposefully, purposely

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Gingerly

Words with the opposite meaning of Gingerly:

careless, heedless, incautious, unguarded, unmindful, unsafe, unwary, aimlessly, anyhow, anyway, anywise, desultorily, erratically, haphazard, haphazardly, helter-skelter, hit or miss, irregularly, randomly, willy-nilly, arbitrarily, capriciously, carelessly, casually, indiscriminately, informally, offhand, offhandedly, promiscuously, whimsically

Related Words for Gingerly

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

Near Antonyms of Gingerly

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

Word Forms of Gingerly

Derived words: gingerliness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Gingerly

perhaps from ginger:1

First known use: 1611

Frequently Asked Questions about Gingerly

What does "Gingerly" mean?

"Gingerly" means very cautious or careful. As an an adjective and an adverb, it is defined as: very cautious or careful. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Gingerly"?

Other words for "Gingerly" include alert, careful, cautious, chary, circumspect, conservative, considerate and guarded. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Gingerly" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Gingerly"?

There are 43 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Gingerly". Common alternatives include alert, careful, cautious, chary, circumspect, conservative, considerate, guarded, heedful and safe.

What is the opposite of "Gingerly"?

Antonyms of "Gingerly" include careless, heedless, incautious, unguarded, unmindful, unsafe, unwary and aimlessly. Near antonyms include bold, brash, impetuous and rash.

How do you use "Gingerly" in a sentence?

Examples of "Gingerly" in a sentence: "gave the cork on the bottle of champagne a gingerly twist".

Is "Gingerly" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Gingerly" can be used as an adjective and an adverb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Gingerly"?

"Gingerly" is pronounced /ˈjin-jər-lē/ and divided into syllables as gin·ger·ly.

What is the origin of the word "Gingerly"?

"Gingerly" comes from perhaps from ginger:1. First known use: 1611.