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; care, -less
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
To connect maternal regret with unloving and neglectful parenting is a careless assumption, according to Israeli sociologist Orna Donath, author of Regretting Motherhood: A Study.
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
In my case, the confession didn’t make me look careless or unserious.
From The Wall Street Journal • 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.
