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
Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
This year, any attempt to raise money for local needs will almost certainly go down in flames, thanks to the irresponsible war that powerful Tallahassee interests have launched on Florida’s local governments.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
To simply try to cram additional housing into areas already strained with overdevelopment is irresponsible and foolhardy.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 11 Mar. 2026
But at this stage of Porzingis’ career, with his medical record and dearth of games played, expecting a savior for a team clinging to the eighth seed is irresponsible.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 8 Mar. 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
Lago vehemently opposes Fernandez’s proposal, describing it as an irresponsible business decision that would put the city in financial risk and the reason why the fourth-fifth vote requirement needs to exist.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
This year, any attempt to raise money for local needs will almost certainly go down in flames, thanks to the irresponsible war that powerful Tallahassee interests have launched on Florida’s local governments.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
To simply try to cram additional housing into areas already strained with overdevelopment is irresponsible and foolhardy.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 11 Mar. 2026
But at this stage of Porzingis’ career, with his medical record and dearth of games played, expecting a savior for a team clinging to the eighth seed is irresponsible.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 8 Mar. 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 19 Mar. 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
