careless

Examples

• All

• At some point in the past, that gardener must have been careless and inattentive.

  Fiction book (1999)

• The cause of the fire is unknown but careless campers are most likely to blame.

  Impostor (2001)

• This time, I will not be careless.

  Secret Ceremony (1968)

• See what happens when you get careless?

  Silent Running (1972)

• Maybe he was in a hurry, and that caused him to be careless.

  Fiction book (2000)

• You know, we were very careless with emails.

  Danny Jones

• Well, it should be, but careless mistakes can creep into our writing.

  Fiction book (2002)

• White makes a careless move and realizes too late what he's done.

  Fiction book (2001)

• A streetcar clanked along the steel tracks, jingling a warning to a careless pedestrian.

  Fiction book (1996)

• He was careless when he left the door unlocked, allowing the dog to escape.

Synonyms

I

irresponsible

vscareless

203 3.2

Not thinking about what will happen after you act

is similar but focuses on lack of attention rather than responsibility

N

negligent

vscareless

58 5.3

Not taking proper care and causing harm or risk

expresses lack of care but not necessarily causing direct harm

N

neglectful

vscareless

8 4.4

Not giving enough care or attention when something needs it

is the general failure to be careful about actions or tasks

H

heedless

vscareless

6 7.3

Not paying attention to danger or rules

describes the same low attention but as a general fault

I

inattentive

vscareless

5 5.3

Does not notice what is happening or small details

focuses on not giving enough thought to prevent mistakes

S

slipshod

vscareless

5 8.1

Made carelessly and without attention to detail

describes lack of care more generally rather than poor workmanship

D

devil-may-care

vscareless

• Informal

4 8.1

Not caring about danger or the bad results of actions

describes plain lack of attention without the playful reckless attitude

U

unmindful

vscareless

1 7.2

Not aware of what is happening around you

highlights failure to think enough to avoid danger or error

I

incautious

vscareless

1 6.7

Not careful about possible danger or harm

is the broader failure to give attention before acting

U

uncareful

vscareless

1 5.7

Someone who does not pay attention and often causes mistakes or harm

is the basic idea of not giving enough care to avoid harm

U

unwatchful

vscareless

7.3

Not paying attention makes you miss danger or problems

covers the same inattentiveness but as general lack of care

U

unvigilant

vscareless

8.7

Not watching carefully for danger or problems

is similar but stresses lack of careful thought to avoid harm

U

unconscientious

vscareless

8.8

Not careful about doing the right thing

centres on not paying attention rather than moral failure

Antonyms

C

careful

∞ 1.0

Watching what you do to avoid mistakes or harm

C

cautious

210 2.9

Careful to avoid risk or mistakes

C

careful

38 1.0

Avoiding waste when spending money

How Careless

reckless

193 3.6

negligent

58 5.3

careless

14 1.0

sloppy

155 2.0

inattentive

5 5.3

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology