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
Ed Sayres, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
There is, in fact, a distinction between being paid like a pro and being a pro, and college athletes are still college kids in all their goofy, irresponsible glory.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
Arguments about who can communicate with which audiences, whether science writers are irresponsible or scientists hopelessly opaque, continue.
—Literary Hub, 20 Mar. 2026
This is just irresponsible madness.
—Harvey Levine, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for irresponsible
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Adjective
The goal of this legislation is to target puppy mills — irresponsible dog breeders who don’t provide for animal welfare.
—Ed Sayres, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
There is, in fact, a distinction between being paid like a pro and being a pro, and college athletes are still college kids in all their goofy, irresponsible glory.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
Arguments about who can communicate with which audiences, whether science writers are irresponsible or scientists hopelessly opaque, continue.
—Literary Hub, 20 Mar. 2026
This is just irresponsible madness.
—Harvey Levine, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 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 4 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
irresponsible
adjective
ir·re·spon·si·ble
ˌir-i-ˈspän(t)-sə-bəl
: not responsible : mentally inadequate to bear responsibility
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