From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcircumspectcir‧cum‧spect /ˈsɜːkəmspekt $ ˈsɜːr-/ adjective formal CAREFULthinking carefully about something before doing it, in order to avoid risk SYN cautious The governor was usually circumspect when dealing with the media. —circumspectly adverb —circumspection /ˌsɜːkəmˈspekʃən $ ˌsɜːr-/ noun [uncountable]
Examples from the Corpus
circumspect• All such discussions, however remained quite circumspect.• The reformers were normally more circumspect.• They managed to see Maeda who dropped hints and told them to be circumspect.• You see, they are both fairly cautious and circumspect.• There was nothing circumspect about Cameron, nothing held-back.• At other times, however, he is more circumspect and admits that this is a hotly disputed issue in biology.• The Montagu case left homosexuals in Britain nervous and more inclined to circumspect behaviour.• Walesa was circumspect in discussing his political actions.• But ministers from the conservative Liberal Democratic party were more circumspect in their criticism.Origin circumspect (1400-1500) Latin past participle of circumspicere “to look around, be careful”, from circum- (CIRCUM-) + specere “to look” 