careless

adjective

ˈker-ləs How to pronounce careless (audio)
Definition of carelessnext
1
as in unsafe
not paying or showing close attention especially for the purpose of avoiding trouble a careless reporter who often doesn't get his facts straight a careless mistake that caused the plane to crash

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in neglectful
failing to give proper care and attention a careless effort that made an unnecessary mess

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of careless The Giants got away with careless ball security against the Cowboys, duly noted by the Rams. — Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026 He was cited for careless driving, improper passing, following too closely and an unsafe lane change. — John Kelly, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026 Attention is often the first casualty of careless communication. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026 The losers would include the families of passengers who were uninsured, those of trespassers who were careless (or suicidal), and, equally tragically, those of unfortunate railway employees killed in the course of their employment. — Amelia Soth, JSTOR Daily, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for careless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for careless
  1. unsafe
  2. neglectful
  3. reckless
  4. lazy
  5. negligent
Adjective
  • While the government touted Rubin’s overtime savings, Local 64 leaders said the cuts meant less staff and resulted in unsafe operations.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2026
  • This swelling warps the battery’s internal structure and accelerates degradation, making large-format cells unsafe and short-lived.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of unsafe
Adjective
  • Still, Duncan on Friday argued that the move is a mistake that empowers neglectful landlords and fails tenants.
    — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Played by Rhea Perlman alongside her real-life husband Danny DeVito, the beauty and bingo-obsessed matriarch was pretty neglectful.
    — Huntley Woods, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of neglectful
Adjective
  • Whether or not Hal was right to entice Zoe (upon whose shoulders the carnage ultimately falls), his decision to circumvent the Guardians’ chain of command is what ultimately leads to countless deaths and his imprisonment for reckless endangerment.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • They would be purchased with such reckless abandon that your biggest fear would be a three-day rally that took stocks up 40%.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of reckless
Adjective
  • All is peaceful under the long, lazy loggia laden with vibrant fuschia bougainvillaea – the Passeggiata dei Monaci – and in the neat orchards low-hanging with fat, bobbly Amalfi lemons.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • With the White Sox clinging to a one-run lead, Anthony Kay erased Yordan Alvarez on a lineout and got Jose Altuve to hit a lazy fly ball, ending the threat.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of lazy
Adjective
  • The four-count lawsuit alleges that High Meadow was negligent and reckless in allowing more than 150 students into a pool that had a maximum capacity of 105 occupants.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Avila’s sister and co-plaintiff, Patricia Avila sued Brown in April 2021, alleging premises liability, negligent infliction of emotional distress and strict liability.
    — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of negligent

Browse Nearby Words

caregiving
careless
carelessly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Careless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/careless. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All