YSK because text-based communication demands clarity, and this mistake can be confusing for both native English speakers and English learners alike.
I’ve seen many people online writing “weary” when the context of the rest of their posts suggest they mean “wary.” Here are Merriam-Webster definitions for each:
- exhausted in strength, endurance, vigor, or freshness
- marked by keen caution, cunning, and watchfulness especially in detecting and escaping danger
Hope this helps somebody out there who may not know the difference or has been confused by the words :)
Just to confuse the issue:
“Be wary of driving while weary.” — “It’s dangerous to drive while sleepy.”
“I’m weary of being wary.” — “Doc, I really need to get over my anxiety disorder.”