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careless - 4 dictionary results

care⋅less

  [kair-lis]
Use careless in a Sentence
–adjective
1. not paying enough attention to what one does: a careless typist.
2. not exact, accurate, or thorough: careless work.
3. done or said heedlessly or negligently; unconsidered: a careless remark.
4. not caring or troubling; having no care or concern; unconcerned (usually fol. by of, about, or in): careless of the rights of others; careless about one's behavior; careless in speech.
5. possessed or caused without effort or art; unstudied: careless beauty.
6. Archaic. free from anxiety.
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME; OE carlēas. See care, -less

Related forms:
care⋅less⋅ly, adverb
care⋅less⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. inattentive, incautious, unwary, indiscreet, reckless. 2. inaccurate, negligent. 3. unthoughtful, unmindful. 4. thoughtless, forgetful; inconsiderate.

Antonyms:
1–4. careful.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To careless
care·less   (kâr'lĭs)   
adj.  
  1. Taking insufficient care; negligent: a careless housekeeper; careless proofreading.
  2. Marked by or resulting from lack of forethought or thoroughness: a careless mistake.
  3. Showing a lack of consideration: a careless remark.
  4. Unconcerned or indifferent; heedless: careless of the consequences.
  5. Unstudied or effortless: danced with careless grace.
  6. Exhibiting a disposition that is free from cares; cheerful: a careless grin; a careless wave of the hand.
care'less·ly adv., care'less·ness n.
Synonyms: These adjectives apply to what is marked by insufficient care or attention. Careless often implies negligence: "It is natural for careless writers to run into faults they never think of" (George Berkeley).
Heedless often suggests recklessness: "We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals; we know now that it is bad economics" (Franklin D. Roosevelt).
Thoughtless applies to actions taken without due consideration: "But thoughtless follies laid him low / And stain'd his name" (Robert Burns).
Inadvertent implies unintentional lack of care: With an inadvertent gesture, she swept the vase off the table.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Careless

Care"less\, a. [AS. cearle['a]s.]

1. Free from care or anxiety. hence, cheerful; light-hearted. --Spenser.

Sleep she as sound as careless infancy. --Shak.

2. Having no care; not taking ordinary or proper care; negligent; unconcerned; heedless; inattentive; unmindful; regardless.

My brother was too careless of his charge. --Shak.

He grew careless of himself. --Steele.

3. Without thought or purpose; without due care; without attention to rule or system; unstudied; inconsiderate; spontaneous; rash; as, a careless throw; a careless expression.

He framed the careless rhyme. --Beattie.

4. Not receiving care; uncared for. [R.]

Their many wounds and careless harms. --Spenser.

Syn: Negligent; heedless; thoughtless; unthinking; inattentive; incautious; remiss; supine; forgetful; regardless; inconsiderate; listless.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : careless
Spanish: descuidado, despreocupado,
German: nachlässig,
Japanese: 不注意な
More Translations »

Main Entry: care·less
Function: adjective
: not showing due care : NEGLIGENT <careless driving> —compare RECKLESS
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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