leery

/ˈlɪəri/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈlɪri/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈlir-ē/ (ame, mw)

leery — adjective

  • leerypositive
  • leeriercomparative
  • leeriestsuperlative

1. feeling unsure about a person, plan, or idea, so you stay back from it because y

1.形容詞C1
釋義

feeling unsure about a person, plan, or idea, so you stay back from it because you think it could hurt you or go wrong.

例句

Arjun was leery of investing in the new crypto startup after losing money last year.

leery of + noun (object of suspicion)

Many parents are leery of letting young children use video apps without strict controls.

leery of + -ing (activity people distrust)

同義詞
  • wary

    near-synonym, slightly more neutral and common in formal writing

  • suspicious

    implies stronger active belief that something is wrong; 'leery' is more about caution from past experience

  • distrustful

    formal; focuses on lack of trust rather than the caution it produces

  • cautious

    general care without the implication of suspicion

反義詞
  • trusting

    willing to believe in someone or something without doubt

  • unsuspecting

    having no idea anything is wrong

文法句型

leery of + noun

leery of + -ing

leery about + noun

用法筆記

Strongly prefers a complement: 'leery of X' (most common) or 'leery about X'. The bare predicative form ('I am leery') is rare in natural use; learners should always state what the suspicion is directed at.

常見錯誤

❌I am leery to sign the lease.
✅I am leery of signing the lease.
💡'leery' takes 'of + -ing', not a to-infinitive.
❌She felt leery for the offer.
✅She felt leery of the offer.
💡the preposition is 'of' (sometimes 'about'), never 'for'.