gingerly 1 of 2

adjective

ˈjin-jər-lē How to pronounce gingerly (audio)
Definition of gingerlynext
as in careful
having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble gave the cork on the bottle of champagne a gingerly twist

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

gingerly

2 of 2

adverb

as in carefully

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gingerly
Adjective
Despite the satisfaction that handlers take in gingerly nursing pangolins back to their full strength, the center’s location and the handlers’ identities must remain a secret. — Kang-Chun Cheng, Christian Science Monitor, 9 July 2025 Unlike the gingerly approach to easing restrictions targeting the spread of the virus, the country is split over reopening businesses and schools. — Kendall Karson, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2021
Adverb
Surrounded by ducks that seemed to want to steal the show, the elusive youngster hopped gingerly onto a rock, unfurled its wings, and exposed plumes of bluish-purple feathers that sparkled in the sun. — Mindy Schauer, Oc Register, 3 Sep. 2026 Then, as Cerúndolo prepared to serve, Sinner grimaced, took a few gingerly steps, and stretched his apparently cramping legs. — Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gingerly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gingerly
  1. careful
  2. carefully
  3. wary
  4. formally
  5. cautious
  6. methodically
  7. orderly
  8. systematically
Adjective
  • Nick wants to be careful about their firm’s spending, but Serena reminds him that Cathcarts has every resource at its disposal.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The Iranian regime will need to be careful before launching such an attack, or even before undertaking lesser forms of escalation.
    — Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of careful
Adverb
  • People with eating disorders may exhibit compulsive behaviors around both exercise and eating, including working out for multiple hours every day and carefully calculating every aspect of their diet.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Some of these spaces were inhabited by horses or llamas, but many were just sown with Kentucky blue grass that was carefully cut every weekend.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of carefully
Adjective
  • Smaller banks may not be able to participate in the process and even large ones may initially be wary of untested new rules.
    — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Marlow has a long list of reasons to be wary of Flock and similar systems.
    — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of wary
Adverb
  • The White House has formally sent Congress proposed legislation that would impose mandatory minimum sentences on those convicted of fraud involving federal benefit programs, according to a copy of it seen by Semafor.
    — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Not everyone is convinced Dyson has been careful to say the CameraJet has not been formally recalled.
    — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of formally
Adjective
  • Arellano contends that Becerra should project a more forceful, less cautious persona, drawing on the immigrant and working-class experience of Latino families.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Be cautious with financial ventures before taking unnecessary risks.
    — Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of cautious
Adverb
  • The stock climbed methodically from the low $270s last fall, riding the rising 50-day the entire way with the 200-day providing the broader structural floor below.
    — Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Just as Grossman had to reconstruct the camp at Treblinka after attempts to erase it, so Littell methodically — at times forensically, through interviews with pathologists, survivors and grave diggers — recreates the killings in Bucha.
    — Nick Holdstock, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of methodically
Adverb
  • The man worked as a hospital orderly, according to the AP.
    — Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026
  • Policymakers have moved to keep the selloff orderly.
    — Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Definition of orderly
Adverb
  • Palestinians have been systematically dehumanized, along with the broader Arab and Muslim world, to serve the foreign policy objectives of governments without questioning the moral and legal implications.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The Premier League announced Tuesday that its most successful club over the past 15 seasons, and current standings leader, systematically broke financial monitoring rules for years.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of systematically

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gingerliness
gingerly
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Cite this Entry

“Gingerly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gingerly. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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