Synonyms for circumspection
Most common
discretion prudence carefulness discreetness caution thoughtfulness
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Prudence
prudence, discretion, carefulness, care, calculation, discreetness, forethought
2. Caution — caution, watchfulness, or vigilance fueled by such awareness
caution, attention, thoughtfulness, vigilance, deliberation, heed
Definitions
- n. 1
Caution, watchfulness, or vigilance fueled by such awareness.
- n. 2
Attention to all the facts and circumstances of a case; consideration of all that is pertinent.
Forms
- Plural
- circumspections → prudences, discretions, carefulnesses, cares…
Choose the right word
Circumspection is watchful observation and calculation, but without the timidity implied in caution.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- discretion Discretion is a rare and important virtue.
- prudence It is clear that he failed for lack of prudence.
- caution The soldiers headed for the frontier with caution.
- thoughtfulness "Thoughtfulness" is a long word in English.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| circumspection | steady | |
| discretion | falling | |
| prudence | steady | |
| carefulness | steady | |
| discreetness | steady | |
| caution | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- care1, heed1
- 7 letters
- caution2
- 8 letters
- prudence2
- 9 letters
- attention3, vigilance3
- 10 letters
- discretion3
- 11 letters
- calculation4, forethought2, carefulness3
- 12 letters
- deliberation5, discreetness
- 14 letters
- thoughtfulness3
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (caution2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- circonspection
- Italiano
- circospezione
- Español
- circunspección