heedless

[ heed-lis ]

adjective

1. careless; thoughtless; unmindful:

   Heedless of the danger, he returned to the burning building to save his dog.

   Synonyms: uncaring, unconcerned, negligent, indifferent, oblivious

   Antonyms: heedful, mindful, cautious

heedless

/ ˈhiːdlɪs /

adjective

1. taking little or no notice; careless or thoughtless

Derived Forms

• ˈheedlessness, noun
• ˈheedlessly, adverb

Other Words From

• heedless·ly adverb
• heedless·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of heedless¹

First recorded in 1570–80; heed + -less

Example Sentences

Then again, everyone around her seems prone to equally heedless decisions.

From Outside Online

Peter had many great skills, but even in his prime he was a heedless driver.

From The Daily Beast

That, and what appears to be the heedless greed of a big-time recording company, Interscope Records.

From The Daily Beast

For Romney and his operatives to find themselves in this situation is inexplicable, except on grounds of heedless greed.

From The Daily Beast

Lives have always been ruined by heedless acts, but perhaps not so loudly and thoroughly.

From The Daily Beast

Princeton students are not heedless of obstacles to combining career and family in the real world.

From The Daily Beast

He marched on buoyantly, heedless of the wet and the squirting mud from unseen puddles.

From Project Gutenberg

Because he had sunk into the slough of despond, he would be heedless of the mud that gathered on his garments.

From Project Gutenberg

The heedless chatter of the ladies, the braying laughs of the men-at-arms, were a little chilled.

From Project Gutenberg

Barrington laughed as he descended the narrow stairs, but he was not heedless of his companion's warnings.

From Project Gutenberg

He wrapped him in every piece of dry clothing he could find, and supported his head, heedless of the blood which covered him.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• inattentive
• reckless