Difference between Careful and Cautious

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Key Difference: Careful is described as exercising or taking care, whereas cautious is described as being careful about avoiding danger or risk. In the real word, being careful is considered as a smart approach, whereas being cautious is considered as lacking confidence.

The terms careful and cautious are treated as synonyms because they warn to avoid danger. While the two terms are technically synonymous and are even listed as so in majority of the renowned dictionaries, they do in fact differ from each other in the context that they are used.

In technicality, both terms have the same meaning. They both refer to using care or caution in their approach. They warn a person to exercise care or caution, to be careful and to avoid danger. However, in practicality the two terms have developed and are used in a slightly different context.

Careful is described as exercising or taking care, whereas cautious is described as being careful about avoiding danger or risk. While both are good advice, and nearly identical, in the real word, being careful is considered as a smart approach, whereas being cautious is considered as lacking confidence. Being over cautious is generally looked down upon and considered to be cowardly.

Being careful means to be smart, to see and recognize coming danger and to avoid it. It also indicated to be prepared for danger and to plan accordingly. Whereas, cautious is construed to mean an overly careful person, who prepares for every disaster, who may have a slight negative outlook because he is looking for danger everywhere. Basically it can be said that being cautious, is being too careful with just a hint of fear.

Comparison between Careful and Cautious:

	Careful	Cautious
Definition (Merriam-Webster)	Using care Made, done, or said with care Filling with care or solicitude Solicitous, anxious Exercising or taking care Marked by attentive concern and solicitude Marked by wary caution or prudence Marked by painstaking effort to avoid errors or omissions	Careful about avoiding danger or risk Marked by or given to caution Having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble
Description	Being careful means to be smart, to see and recognize coming danger and to avoid it. It also indicated to be prepared for danger and to plan accordingly.	Cautious is construed to mean an overly careful person, who prepares for every disaster, who may have a slight negative outlook because he is looking for danger everywhere.
Associated with	Being smart to avoid danger and trouble, being confident and prepared.	Being worried and anxious, being nervous, and possibly unprepared. A touch of fear.
Behavior	Cautious people worry that they're not doing the right thing.	Cautious people worry that they're not doing the right thing.

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