care less
1 of 2phrase
: not to care
—used positively and negatively with the same meaning
I could care less what happens. = I couldn't care less what happens.
1
a
: free from care : untroubled
careless days
b
: indifferent, unconcerned
careless of the consequences
2
: not taking care
My brother was too careless of his charge.—
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare3
: not showing or receiving care:
b
: unstudied, spontaneous
a careless grace
a careless glance
c
obsolete
: unvalued, disregarded
carelessly
adverb
carelessness
noun
Examples of care less in a Sentence
Adjective
He is a careless worker.
She was careless with my things.
It was a careless mistake.
a newspaper known for careless reporting
Recent Examples on the Web
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 10 Mar. 2026
Ortiz has been arrested several times in Florida in the past, including for bankruptcy, suspicion of careless driving, and suspicion of domestic violence and battery.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2026
The lawsuit accuses Live Nation, which operates The Pavilion at Star Lake, along with Crossroads Properties and Legends Hospitality, of being negligent, reckless, careless, and liable for the injuries Mollenkopf suffered while at the concert.
—Mike Darnay, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
Those arrests were related to a 2013 bankruptcy case, suspicion of careless driving in 2021, and suspicion of domestic violence and battery in 2023.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for care less
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
No motive has been cited for the assault by the woman who the Times reported had several prior arrests in her home state, including a bankruptcy case in 2013, an arrest for careless driving in 2021 and another arrest in 2023 on suspicion of domestic violence and battery.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 10 Mar. 2026
Ortiz has been arrested several times in Florida in the past, including for bankruptcy, suspicion of careless driving, and suspicion of domestic violence and battery.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2026
The lawsuit accuses Live Nation, which operates The Pavilion at Star Lake, along with Crossroads Properties and Legends Hospitality, of being negligent, reckless, careless, and liable for the injuries Mollenkopf suffered while at the concert.
—Mike Darnay, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
Those arrests were related to a 2013 bankruptcy case, suspicion of careless driving in 2021, and suspicion of domestic violence and battery in 2023.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for care less
Cite this Entry
“Care less.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/care%20less. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
careless
adjective
care·less
ˈke(ə)r-ləs 
ˈka(ə)r-
1
: free from care : not troubled
2
: not taking proper care
a careless worker
3
: done, made, or said without proper care
a careless mistake
carelessly
adverb
carelessness
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
