| careful |
| 1. adj. Taking care; attentive to potential danger, error or harm; cautious. | |
| He was a slow and careful driver. | |
| 2. adj. Conscientious and painstaking; meticulous. | |
| They made a careful search of the crime scene. | |
| 3. adj. (obsolete) Full of care or grief; sorrowful, sad. | |
| 4. adj. (obsolete) Full of cares or anxiety; worried, troubled. | |
| prudent |
| 1. adj. Sagacious in adapting means to ends; circumspect in action, or in determining any line of conduct; careful, discreet, sensible; — opposed to rash; directed by prudence or wise forethought; evinc | |
| 2. adj. Practically wise, judicious, shrewd | |
| His prudent career moves reliably brought him to the top | |
| 3. adj. Frugal; economical; not extravagant; | |
| Only prudent expenditure may provide quality within a restrictive budget | |
| cautious |
| 1. adj. careful; using or exercising caution; tentative | |
| He took a few cautious steps toward the cave. | |
