Homophones — words that sound the same, but have different meanings (and possibly different spelling) — can sometimes be a challenge. This is especially true in the age of spellcheck and autocorrect, as the “wrong” word isn’t marked as an error. Today, we’ll be taking a look at one such pairing: wary vs. weary. To confuse matters even further, both terms are most commonly used as adjectives. So, what’s the difference?

Wary: Be Careful of the Danger

YourDictionary defines “wary” as “watchful or cautious.”

Basically, it means that you are showing or exercising a certain level of caution or apprehension about the potential danger of a situation. You’re not necessarily afraid (though you could be), as much as you’re just being more careful. Consider these example sentences:

  • I’d be wary of that politician’s promises.
  • You should be wary of falling rocks on this hike.
  • Wary of traffic, Janine looked both ways before crossing the street.
  • With a wary expression, Paolo reluctantly agreed to the deal.
  • He appeared wary of the situation, but proceeded anyway.

A great way to remember how and when to use the word “wary” is to recognize it derives from the same root that gives us the word “beware.” You know how the Soothsayer in Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” says to “beware the Ides of March”? He’s saying to be careful, because something bad might happen. The Soothsayer turns out to be right, as you know.

Weary: Physical and Mental Exhaustion

How can you differentiate wary vs. weary? Well, the definition for “weary” says it means “feeling very tired or fatigued.”

This means that you’re experiencing a great level of exhaustion. It might be physical exhaustion, after you’ve overexerted yourself, or it might be mental exhaustion, after dealing with one too many toddler tantrums and meltdowns. Perhaps one of the most famous uses of the word “weary” comes from “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe:

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

Take a look at these “weary” sentence examples for more:

  • I’ve grown weary after answering so many emails.
  • With a big weary yawn and stretch, Chuck finally went to bed.
  • The weary dog, after enduring such a long journey, couldn’t take another step.
  • “For the 50th time, pi is approximately 3.14,” repeated the weary math tutor.
  • The weary travelers looked up to see that help had finally arrived.

Where We Are Wary of Growing Weary

“I’ve grown wary of the situation” might indicate that you’re being extra careful or you’ve become suspicious. “I’ve grown weary of the situation” just means that you’re tired of dealing with it. Both sentences can be correct, but they have entirely different meanings.

Just as we learned from site vs. cite vs. sight and martial vs. marshal vs. Marshall, homophones can be a little tricky. No one will notice when you’re talking out loud. However, in this age of digital communication and social media, it’s important to spell the right word at the right time for the right meaning. Otherwise, your followers may grow weary of your typos and wary of your assertions.