guarded

/gɑrdəd/

/ˈgɑdɪd/

Someone who's guarded is careful, restrained, and maybe a little bit wary. It's normal for a new rescue dog to be guarded when you first bring her home.

People tend to be guarded in certain situations — when they're being criticized, or are at a party where they don't know a single person. Others simply have guarded personalities, always starting from a position of cautiousness. Guarded can also literally mean "protected," like a guarded castle, but you'll more often find it describing a restrained person.

Definitions of guarded

1. adjective

   prudent
   “guarded optimism”

   synonyms: restrained

   cautious

   showing careful forethought