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recklessness

recklessness

18 5.2
Acting without caring about danger or what might happen
  • noun
  • /ˈrɛkləsnəs/
translation icon : imprudencia
  • His recklessness while driving led to a severe accident that could have been avoided.
  • boldness and recklessness

It is a degree of recklessness, criminal negligence that rises to a crime.

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Examples

  • The company's recklessness in ignoring safety regulations resulted in a costly disaster.

  • There is an element of extreme recklessness in the latest campaign of Israeli military aggression.

    Blog text (19)
  • Your school's recklessness nearly killed my son.

  • As he grew older, she would not punish him for his recklessness.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Haven't we paid enough of a price for your recklessness?

  • This is about me and your family and all of us who've lived our whole lives in the shadow of your recklessness.

  • And a lot of people blamed that crash on the recklessness of the driver of that Bracero bus.

  • I stood silently, waiting to be reminded of what might have happened because of our recklessness.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • The question on everybody's mind was, would France's recklessness lead to another great power conflict?

  • The PRC has, however, displayed an extraordinary degree of recklessness in its quest for hard currency.

    Academic text (1990)

Synonyms

madness
vsrecklessness
112 4.6

A foolish action that shows poor judgment

emphasizes ignoring danger specifically rather than general foolishness
carelessness
vsrecklessness
16 2.8

Lack of attention that causes mistakes or accidents

involves active disregard for danger rather than mere negligence
impulsivity
vsrecklessness
5 7.0

A habit of acting quickly without thinking about what will happen

involves a clearer disregard for danger rather than just rash timing
impulsiveness
vsrecklessness
4 5.9

A habit of acting quickly without thinking about the results

stresses ignoring danger and outcomes rather than merely quick choice
rashness
vsrecklessness
1 5.6

Acting or speaking quickly without thinking about the bad results

is broader, showing general disregard for danger rather than only thoughtlessness
impetuousness
vsrecklessness
1 8.7

A tendency to act quickly without thinking, often causing problems

is similar but focuses on ignoring danger rather than mere speed of action
heedlessness
vsrecklessness
1 7.8

Not paying attention to danger or important things

is broader, focusing on deliberate indifference to danger rather than absent attention
riskiness
vsrecklessness
1 4.5

How likely something is to cause harm or loss

focuses on a person's ignoring of danger rather than the risky state itself
foolhardiness
vsrecklessness
1 8.2

A habit of taking dangerous risks without thinking about the results

is the general lack of regard for danger, not only daring bravado
impetuosity
vsrecklessness
1 8.9

A tendency to act quickly without thinking that causes rash decisions

puts more weight on careless disregard for danger rather than only haste
imprudence
vsrecklessness
1 7.7

A failure to be careful or to use good judgment when making choices

centres on ignoring danger specifically rather than general poor judgment
daredeviltry
vsrecklessness
9.1

Bold, dangerous actions done without care for safety

is the general ignoring of danger across actions, not only stunts
daredevilry
vsrecklessness
8.8

Very bold acts that risk serious harm

is broader, covering any acting without regard to consequences
incautiousness
vsrecklessness
8.3

Not being careful about danger or risk

is more about choosing to ignore danger rather than simple inattention
unconscientiousness
vsrecklessness
9.9

Not being careful or responsible about doing what is right

concerns ignoring danger specifically rather than general lack of responsibility
irresponsiveness
vsrecklessness
7.2

Not doing important duties and not accepting blame for mistakes

is about acting despite danger and consequences, not only shirking duty
unwiseness
vsrecklessness
9.7

A lack of good judgment when making choices

is specifically about acting without regard to danger or possible outcomes

Antonyms

158 2.5

Care that helps you avoid danger or mistakes

1 2.1

Paying close attention to avoid mistakes or harm

How Reckless

recklessness
18 5.2
rashness
1 5.6
carelessness
16 2.8
caution
158 2.5

Surface Forms

recklessness singular

Morphology

recklessness = reckless (transparent) = reck + less + ness

Formed by adding the noun-forming suffix '-ness' to the adjective 'reckless'; the meaning 'the quality of being reckless' is directly predictable.

Etymology

The word recklessness comes from the old verb reck meaning 'to care' and the ending -less meaning 'without', and you can see the same root in reckon. So, recklessness literally means 'without care', which is why it describes acting without thinking about danger or possible results.