ir·re·spon·si·ble
ˌir-i-ˈspän(t)-sə-bəl 
: not responsible: such as
a
: lacking a sense of responsibility
b
: said or done with no sense of responsibility
irresponsible accusations
c
: unable especially mentally or financially to bear responsibility
d
: not answerable to higher authority
an irresponsible dictatorship
: a person who is irresponsible
Examples of irresponsible in a Sentence
Adjective
He's too irresponsible to keep a job for more than a week.
She made irresponsible comments that helped cause the riot.
It would be irresponsible to ignore the threats.
Recent Examples on the Web
Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 20 May 2026
Why should law-abiding citizens have to pay for the irresponsible actions of others?
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 18 May 2026
Letter writer feels taken advantage of by irresponsible mother who always needs money and shuts down any criticism.
—Sahaj Kaur Kohli, Washington Post, 14 May 2026
The majority of residents who spoke on the item at Thursday’s meeting spoke out against it, expressing concern that another bond on the heels of the $400 million Miami Forever Bond — approved in 2017 — was fiscally irresponsible.
—Tess Riski
may 14, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for irresponsible
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.
Adjective
In another gun rights case, the justices may loosen a federal law aimed at keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous or irresponsible people.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 20 May 2026
Why should law-abiding citizens have to pay for the irresponsible actions of others?
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 18 May 2026
Letter writer feels taken advantage of by irresponsible mother who always needs money and shuts down any criticism.
—Sahaj Kaur Kohli, Washington Post, 14 May 2026
The majority of residents who spoke on the item at Thursday’s meeting spoke out against it, expressing concern that another bond on the heels of the $400 million Miami Forever Bond — approved in 2017 — was fiscally irresponsible.
—Tess Riski
may 14, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for irresponsible
Cite this Entry
“Irresponsible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irresponsible. Accessed 27 May. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
irresponsible
adjective
ir·re·spon·si·ble
ˌir-i-ˈspän(t)-sə-bəl
: not responsible : mentally inadequate to bear responsibility
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
