Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

leery

/ˈlɪəɹi/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.58 in modern English

Syllables: leery
IPA: /ˈlɪəɹi/

8

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

2

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Cautious, suspicious, wary, hesitant, or nervous about something; having reservations or concerns.

adj

Sly; artful; knowing.

British usage; Obsolete; Slang

adj

Leering; lecherous or unpleasant.

Example Sentences

"Since he was bitten by a dog when he was young, he has always been leery of animals."
"“[…]He was one of their top gun-fighters—always up to his ears in the thick of any fightin' that was goin' on. He never was leery of anything on two feet, I'll say that much for'm.”"
"“He's so darn afraid you'll be offended if he smokes. You scare him. Every time he speaks of the weather you jump him because he ain't talking about poetry or Gertie—Goethe?—or some other highbrow junk. You've got him so leery he scarcely dares to come here.”"
"It probably seems crazy, crazy, a graveyard theory A ghost tried to approach me, he got leery"
"And there was a particularly brutal villain with leery eyes, ugly mouth, with one tooth gone, and an iron jaw like a hull-dog's."

Etymology

First attested in 1718, “untrustful, suspicious”, either from leer (“sideward look”) + -y, lear (“learning, knowledge”) + -y. More at leer, lear.

Origin

First known use: First attested in 1718

Word Breakdown

Suffix: leer, lear

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈlɪəɹi/
British English: /ˈlɪəɹi/

Usage

British usage
Obsolete
Slang

Inflected Forms

leerier (comparative) leeriest (superlative) leary (alternative)

Derived Forms

leerily leeriness unleery

Synonyms

mistrustful suspicious untrusting wary

Homonyms

lairy (cheer–chair merger)

Rhymes With

theory weary erie eerie siri dreary o'leary cheery cleary leary teary geary

Questions

How do you pronounce leery?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈlɪəɹi/.
What does leery mean?: Cautious, suspicious, wary, hesitant, or nervous about something; having reservations or concerns.
Where does leery come from?: First known use: First attested in 1718.

How to pronounce leery

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “leery”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈlɪəɹi/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “leery”.
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