Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In a guarded or cautious manner.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb In a guarded manner.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb in a conservative manner

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

guarded +‎ -ly

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Examples

  • He invokes one of the 'reasonable right' (and I use the term guardedly) to back his assertions.

    Crooks and Liars 2010

  • Gerald was a victim and I use that term guardedly of a "celebrity mentality" that pervades the Catholic media.

    I'm late on this but... Dymphna 2008

  • Given that, it's not going to be a surprise to me if this movie makes catwoman look like oscar material but I'll try and remain 'guardedly optimisitic'.

    Foundation: The Movie 2003

  • "I say, Phil," he called guardedly; "you ready to listen to the wildest kind of a notion?"

    Boy Scouts of the Air on Lost Island Gordon Stuart

  • So there is an argument to be made that he has -- and I'm using this phrase guardedly given President Bush's use of it -- political capital to spend.

    CNN Transcript Nov 11, 2008 2008

  • And he turned toward the bushes that had at first hidden him from Jean, waved his hand in an imperative gesture, and called guardedly through cupped palms.

    Jean of the Lazy A 1915

  • And he turned toward the bushes that had at first hidden him from Jean, waved his hand in an imperative gesture, and called guardedly through cupped palms.

    Jean of the Lazy A B. M. Bower 1905

  • Majors Creek community liaison committee chairman Bill Waterhouse said there was a diversity of opinion in the village about the mine, from '' very strongly anti to what I would call guardedly optimistic '', but the committee had not formed an official view yet. ''

    The Canberra Times - Front Page 2010

  • Even the Fed was guardedly more upbeat about the economy, although the central bank cautioned the economy is hindered by "significant downside risks."

    Europe Clouds U.S. Stocks Steven Russolillo 2011

  • He's guardedly optimistic that Brown, in this moment of political crisis, can move beyond the intractable and implacable forces that placed his governorship, and to a large extent, Schwarzenegger's, in a vice.

    William Bradley: The Jerry Brown Era Unfolds (Again) William Bradley 2011

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