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careful implies close attention to or great concern for whatever is one's work or responsibility, and usually connotes thoroughness, a guarding against error or injury, etc.; meticulous implies extreme, sometimes finicky, carefulness about details; scrupulous implies a conscientious adherence to what is considered right, true, accurate, or proper in every detail; circumspect implies a careful consideration of all circumstances to avoid error or unfavorable consequences; cautious implies a careful guarding against possible dangers or risks; prudent implies the exercise of both caution and circumspection, suggesting careful management in economic and practical matters; discreet implies the exercise of discernment and judgment in the guidance of one's speech and action and suggests careful restraint; wary implies a cautiousness that is prompted by suspicion
See careful in Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus II
Cautiously attentive:
heedful, mindful, observant, watchful. See carefulTrying attentively to avoid danger, risk, or error:
cautious, chary, circumspect, forehanded, gingerly, prudent, wary. See carefulShowing or marked by attentiveness to all aspects or details:
fastidious, meticulous, painstaking, punctilious, scrupulous. See carefulSee careful in American Heritage Dictionary 4 Synonyms
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