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Meaning of careless in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Classifying Adjective
    1. Definitions
  3. Qualitative Adjective
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions
  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈkɛrləs/

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  1. Classifying Adjective

    careless

    Definitions

    1. effortless and unstudied

    Examples

    • « an impression of careless elegance »
    • « danced with careless grace »

    Synonyms

    • artless
  2. 2. showing an unthinking lack of consideration

    Examples

    • « a careless remark »

    Synonyms

    • inconsiderate
  3. Qualitative Adjective

    careless

    Etymology

    Old English carlēas ‘free from care’ (see care, -less)

    Definitions

    1. marked by lack of attention or consideration or forethought or thoroughness

    Examples

    • « not careful »
    • « careless about her clothes »
    • « forgotten by some careless person »
    • « a careless housekeeper »
    • « careless proofreading »
    • « it was a careless mistake »
    • « hurt by a careles »

    Synonyms

    • casual
    • cursory
    • passing(a)
    • perfunctory
    • haphazard
    • slapdash
    • slipshod
    • sloppy
    • heedless
    • reckless
    • negligent
    • offhand
    • offhanded
    • incautious

    Antonyms

    • careful

Famous quotes

  • « Is it not careless to become too local when there are four hundred billion stars in our galaxy alone. »
    A. R. Ammons
  • « Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters. »
    Albert Einstein
  • « A purpose, an intention, a design, strikes everywhere even the careless, the most stupid thinker. »
    David Hume
  • « There are moments in life, when the heart is so full of emotion That if by chance it be shaken, or into its depths like a pebble Drops some careless word, it overflows, and its secret, Spilt on the ground like water, can never be gathered together. »
    Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
  • « The paradox of courage is that a man must be a little careless of his life even in order to keep it. »
    Gilbert K. Chesterton

See also

  • imprudent
  • inattentive
  • incautious
  • negligent
  • superficial
  • unconcerned

Browse dictionary

  • caregiver
  • carefulness
  • carefully
  • careful
  • careless
  • careless(p)
  • carelessly
  • carelessness
  • Carelian
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