careless
Americanadjective
-
not paying enough attention to what one does.
a careless typist.
- Synonyms:
- reckless, indiscreet, unwary, incautious, inattentive
- Antonyms:
- careful
-
not exact, accurate, or thorough.
careless work.
- Synonyms:
- negligent, inaccurate
- Antonyms:
- careful
-
done or said heedlessly or negligently; unconsidered.
a careless remark.
- Synonyms:
- unmindful, unthoughtful
- Antonyms:
- careful
-
not caring or troubling; having no care or concern; unconcerned (usually followed by of, about, orin ).
careless of the rights of others;
careless about one's behavior;
careless in speech.
- Synonyms:
- inconsiderate, forgetful, thoughtless
- Antonyms:
- careful
-
possessed or caused without effort or art; unstudied.
careless beauty.
-
Archaic. free from anxiety.
adjective
-
done with or acting with insufficient attention; negligent
-
unconcerned in attitude or action; heedless; indifferent (to)
she's very careless about her clothes
-
(usually prenominal) carefree
-
(usually prenominal) unstudied; artless
an impression of careless elegance
Other Word Forms
- carelessly adverb
- carelessness noun
- overcareless adjective
- overcarelessly adverb
Etymology
Origin of careless
First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English carlēas; see care, -less
Explanation
When you're careless about something, you're not giving it much attention or consideration. If you're careless about mowing the lawn, you might mow over your mother's prized daffodils without even noticing. When you say, "I couldn't care less" about something, you're probably going to be pretty careless about it, too. If you couldn’t care less about your homework, then you'll approach it in a careless manner, without much thought or concentration. Careless is negative, but it’s a little less so when it means effortless and unstudied, the way you might bat away a bug with a careless swat. Interestingly, the root meaning of care is "grief," so careless is "without grief."
Vocabulary lists containing careless
Power Suffix: -less
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -less
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-less
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When a nameless secretary drops a sheaf of papers, Kornev’s response to help is instinctive, yet we cringe at the careless faux pas he commits in this unfeeling society.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026
At Birmingham Crown Court after reviewing dashcam footage, the judge asked why Tavener had been charged with causing death by careless and not dangerous driving, which has a harsher penalty.
From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026
Like, just in case someone’s dawdling, or being careless about where they’re dumping snow.
From Slate • Feb. 24, 2026
However, Baroness Kidron said it was "careless" of the prime minister to see the issue "through the lens of his own children".
From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026
After that, having been so cautious up till then, he was careless.
From "Z for Zachariah" by Robert C. O’Brien
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
