irresponsible

adjective

ir·re·spon·si·ble | \ ˌir-i-ˈspän(t)-sə-bəl

Definition of irresponsible

(Entry 1 of 2)

: not responsible: such as

a : not answerable to higher authority an irresponsible dictatorship

b : said or done with no sense of responsibility irresponsible accusations

c : lacking a sense of responsibility

d : unable especially mentally or financially to bear responsibility

irresponsible

noun

Definition of irresponsible (Entry 2 of 2)

: a person who is irresponsible

Other Words from irresponsible Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about irresponsible

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Other Words from irresponsible

Adjective

irresponsibility \ ˌir-i-ˌspän(t)-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē

\ noun

irresponsibleness \ ˌir-i-ˈspän(t)-sə-bəl-nəs

\ noun

irresponsibly \ ˌir-i-ˈspän(t)-sə-blē

\ adverb

Synonyms & Antonyms for irresponsible

Synonyms: Adjective

daredevil, devil-may-care, foolhardy, harum-scarum, hell-for-leather, kamikaze, reckless

Antonyms: Adjective

responsible

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: Adjective

Your roommate’s poor judgment and irresponsible behavior may signal she’s struggling with an underlying issue. — Steven P. Dinkin, sandiegouniontribune.com, "A texting driver, a collision and a bad loan," 8 July 2018 French President Emmanuel Macron waded in, accusing Italy of cynical, irresponsible behavior. — Washington Post, "Disputed policies on migrants are the top threat to EU unity," 16 June 2018 Italy had demanded an apology after the French president accused its new populist Italian government of irresponsible behavior for refusing to allow a rescue ship carrying 629 migrants to dock at an Italian port. — Pablo Gorandi, chicagotribune.com, "Hungary sends smugglers to prison for suffocation deaths of 71 migrants," 14 June 2018 Italy demanded an apology after the French president accused the new Italian government of irresponsible behavior for refusing entry to a rescue ship with 629 migrants aboard. — Fox News, "France, Italy leaders meet Friday amid clash over migration," 14 June 2018 But on Tuesday, President Donald Trump put this critical accord at risk with his reckless and irresponsible decision to violate the multilateral nuclear deal. — Kelsey Davenport, Time, "Trump's Reckless Violation of the Iran Deal Jeopardizes U.S. National Security," 9 May 2018 That film is about an unhinged, spurned mistress who uses the levers of reputation to wreak havoc on an irresponsible but ultimately redeemable man. — Julia Felsenthal, Vogue, "In Dirty John, Connie Britton Brings a Cautionary Tale to Life—And According to Her, the Timing’s Never Been Better to Talk About Con Men," 23 Nov. 2018 Not to mention that doing anything about parenthood other than daydreaming seems irresponsible. — Horacio Salinas, Allure, "The Rise of Egg Freezing as a Fertility Choice," 15 Oct. 2018 Portland has now entered into the unfounded, irresponsible speculation of free agency around LeBron. — Tim Brown, OregonLive.com, "Richard Jefferson makes outlandish claim that Portland Trail Blazers will be LeBron James' destination in free agency," 1 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'irresponsible.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.