cagey
4 synonyms and 1 antonym for cagey, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Careful and guarded about what you say or reveal; reluctant to share information.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use cagey
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
cagey about
stay cagey
a cagey answer
Etymology
An American colloquial term of unclear origin, first recorded in the early 1900s. Some suggest a link to the wary, closed-off behavior of a caged animal, but this is only a guess.
Full origin of cagey →Frequently asked questions
What does “cagey” mean?
The word “cagey” means careful and guarded about what you say or reveal; reluctant to share information. In plain terms, being cautious and a bit secretive, dodging direct answers rather than lying outright.
How do you pronounce “cagey”?
“Cagey” is pronounced KAYD-zhee (/ˈkeɪd͡ʒi/ in IPA).
How do you use “cagey” in a sentence?
Here is “cagey” used in a sentence: “He got cagey when we asked about his new business partner.”
What part of speech is “cagey”?
“Cagey” is an adjective.
Where does the word “cagey” come from?
The word “cagey” dates back to around 1900. An American colloquial term of unclear origin, first recorded in the early 1900s. Some suggest a link to the wary, closed-off behavior of a caged animal, but this is only a guess.
