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
Synonyms
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
Jim Fisher, PCMAG, 11 Apr. 2024
Sarah McIntosh, who represents southeast Louisville, said basing busing access on rates of poverty — which are quantified by the number of students who qualify for free and reduced lunch — would be irresponsible because those rates fluctuate.
—Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 10 Apr. 2024
To feign ignorance or refuse to engage with the underlying processes behind AI in an attempt to dodge responsibility, save costs, or cut corners, is irresponsible and dangerous.
—Quora, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
But be careful that your giving doesn’t enable irresponsible family and friends.
—Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
Someone took a dining-room-table-size portion of them out of the woods not long ago, and irresponsible foragers sell masses of them to restaurants.
—Daryln Brewer Hoffstot Kristian Thacker, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2024
The suit accuses gun retailers and manufacturers of irresponsible businesses practices that allowed criminals to access guns.
—The Indianapolis Star, 15 Mar. 2024
Yet growing disillusion with Hamas’ rule is impacting the group’s future prospects each day the war goes on, as residents see it as unresponsive, irresponsible, and lacking basic care for Gaza’s people.
—Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Mar. 2024
Tiara Edwards is accused of irresponsible gun ownership resulting in the death of Jamero L. Edwards of Milwaukee.
—Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2024
Adjective
As Forbes points out in its report, the bulk of its enforcement targets drone flyers who cause injury, damage property, or show off incredibly irresponsible footage online.
—Jim Fisher, PCMAG, 11 Apr. 2024
Sarah McIntosh, who represents southeast Louisville, said basing busing access on rates of poverty — which are quantified by the number of students who qualify for free and reduced lunch — would be irresponsible because those rates fluctuate.
—Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 10 Apr. 2024
To feign ignorance or refuse to engage with the underlying processes behind AI in an attempt to dodge responsibility, save costs, or cut corners, is irresponsible and dangerous.
—Quora, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
But be careful that your giving doesn’t enable irresponsible family and friends.
—Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
Someone took a dining-room-table-size portion of them out of the woods not long ago, and irresponsible foragers sell masses of them to restaurants.
—Daryln Brewer Hoffstot Kristian Thacker, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2024
The suit accuses gun retailers and manufacturers of irresponsible businesses practices that allowed criminals to access guns.
—The Indianapolis Star, 15 Mar. 2024
Yet growing disillusion with Hamas’ rule is impacting the group’s future prospects each day the war goes on, as residents see it as unresponsive, irresponsible, and lacking basic care for Gaza’s people.
—Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Mar. 2024
Tiara Edwards is accused of irresponsible gun ownership resulting in the death of Jamero L. Edwards of Milwaukee.
—Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'irresponsible.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near irresponsible
Cite this Entry
“Irresponsible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irresponsible. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
irresponsible
adjective
ir·re·spon·si·ble
ˌir-i-ˈspän(t)-sə-bəl
1
: not legally responsible
2
: having or showing no sense of responsibility
irresponsible behavior
3
: unable to bear responsibility
irresponsibility
noun
-ˌspän(t)-sə-ˈbil-ət-ē
irresponsibly
adverb
-ˈspän(t)-sə-blē
Medical Definition
irresponsible
adjective
ir·re·spon·si·ble
ˌir-i-ˈspän(t)-sə-bəl
: not responsible : mentally inadequate to bear responsibility
More from Merriam-Webster on irresponsible
Nglish: Translation of irresponsible for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of irresponsible for Arabic Speakers
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