Characterized by great caution and wariness:
— Chary of the risks involved.
— A chary investor.

synonyms: cagey, cagy.

Roget 864: cautious, wary, guarded; on one's guard etc. (watchful) 459; cavendo tutus [Lat.]; in medio tutissimus [Lat.]; vigilant.    careful, heedful; cautelous^†, stealthy, chary, shy of, circumspect, prudent, discreet, politic; sure-footed etc. (skillful) 698.    unenterprising, unadventurous, cool, steady, self-possessed; overcautious.    ... show more

Roget 817: economical, frugal, careful, thrifty, saving, chary, spare, sparing; parsimonious etc. 819.    underpaid.   

Roget 819: parsimonious, penurious, stingy, miserly, mean, shabby, peddling, scrubby, penny wise, near, niggardly, close; fast handed, close handed, strait handed; close fisted, hard fisted, tight fisted; tight, sparing; chary; grudging, griping etc. v.; illiberal, ungenerous, churlish, hidebound, sordid, mercenary, venal, covetous, usurious, avaricious, greedy, extortionate, rapacious.    ... show more