Printer Friendly
Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary
1,518,354,201 visitors served.
forum mailing list For webmasters
?
New: Language forums
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

careless

   Also found in: Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.09 sec.
care·less  (kârls)
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.

careless·ly adv.
careless·ness n.
Synonyms: careless, heedless, thoughtless, inadvertent
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.

careless
Adjective
1. done or acting with insufficient attention
2. unconcerned in attitude or action
carelessly adv
carelessness n
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Adj.1.careless - marked by lack of attention or consideration or forethought or thoroughness; not careful; "careless about her clothes"; "forgotten by some careless person"; "a careless housekeeper"; "careless proofreading"; "it was a careless mistake"; "hurt by a careless remark"
inattentive - showing a lack of attention or care; "inattentive students"; "an inattentive babysitter"
incautious - lacking in caution; "an incautious remark"; "incautious talk"
unconcerned - lacking in interest or care or feeling; "the average American...is unconcerned that his or her plight is the result of a complex of personal and economic and governmental actions...beyond the normal citizen's comprehension and control"; "blithely unconcerned about his friend's plight"
negligent - characterized by neglect and undue lack of concern; "negligent parents"; "negligent of detail"; "negligent in his correspondence"
superficial - concerned with or comprehending only what is apparent or obvious; not deep or penetrating emotionally or intellectually; "superficial similarities"; "a superficial mind"; "his thinking was superficial and fuzzy"; "superficial knowledge"; "the superficial report didn't give the true picture"; "only superficial differences"
imprudent - not prudent or wise; "very imprudent of her mother to encourage her in such silly romantic ideas"; "would be imprudent for a noneconomist to talk about the details of economic policy"- A.M.Schlesinger
careful - exercising caution or showing care or attention; "they were careful when crossing the busy street"; "be careful to keep her shoes clean"; "did very careful research"; "careful art restorers"; "careful of the rights of others"; "careful about one's behavior"
2.careless - effortless and unstudied; "an impression of careless elegance"; "danced with careless grace"
artless - simple and natural; without cunning or deceit; "an artless manner"; "artless elegance"
3.careless - (usually followed by `of') without due thought or consideration; "careless of the consequences"; "crushing the blooms with regardless tread"
heedless, unheeding - marked by or paying little heed or attention; "We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals; we know now that it is bad economics"--Franklin D. Roosevelt; "heedless of danger"; "heedless of the child's crying"

careless
adjective 3. nonchalant, casual, offhand, artless, unstudied << OPPOSITE careful
Translations
careless [ˈkɛəlɪs] adjdescuidado (= heedless); poco atento
careless [ˈkɛəlɪs] care adjnégligent(e) (= heedless); insouciant(e)
careless [ˈkɛəlɪs] adjleichtsinnig;
(negligent) → nachlässig;
(remark) → gedankenlos
careless [ˈkɛəlɪs] adjnegligente; [remark] → privo/a di tatto


How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Email
Feedback
Add definition
? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
Daughtry, himself moulded on generously careless lines, could not but appreciate the spaciousness of the Ancient Mariner, who had evidently lived spaciously and who was ever for sharing the treasure they sought.
And never a flake That the vapour can make With the moon-tints of purple and pearl, Can vie with the modest Eulalie's most unregarded curl - Can compare with the bright-eyed Eulalie's most humble and careless curl.
And now Spring beckons me with verdant hand, And Nature's wealth of eloquence doth win Forth to the fragrant-bowered nectarine, Where my dear friends abide, a careless band.
 
Dictionary/thesaurus browser? ? Full browser
 
 
Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Translations
?

Disclaimer | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2009 Farlex, Inc.
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Terms of Use.