1
as in unsafe
not paying or showing close attention especially for the purpose of avoiding trouble
a careless reporter who often doesn't get his facts straight a careless mistake that caused the plane to crash
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in neglectful
failing to give proper care and attention
a careless effort that made an unnecessary mess
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of careless
Chendall Weaver has a team-high seven points and Matas Vokietaitis has six, but careless play (seven turnovers) is hurting the Longhorns.
—
Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 31 Jan. 2026
Prevent damage by avoiding sodium ice melt, careless plowing, and watering dormant grass.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 28 Jan. 2026
Among the violations for which troopers most frequently issued citations in 2025 were careless driving, operating a motorcycle without a license endorsement, and speeding 10 mph to 29 mph over the limit.
—Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 26 Jan. 2026
Instead of churning out another meta indie comedy from cool TikTokers, Gail Daughtry seeks to return the genre to a more careless time for the world — and a much more profitable time for Hollywood.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 25 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for careless
Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 31 Jan. 2026
Prevent damage by avoiding sodium ice melt, careless plowing, and watering dormant grass.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 28 Jan. 2026
Among the violations for which troopers most frequently issued citations in 2025 were careless driving, operating a motorcycle without a license endorsement, and speeding 10 mph to 29 mph over the limit.
—Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 26 Jan. 2026
Instead of churning out another meta indie comedy from cool TikTokers, Gail Daughtry seeks to return the genre to a more careless time for the world — and a much more profitable time for Hollywood.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 25 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for careless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for careless
Adjective
-
The protections, known as the Flores Settlement Agreement, trace back to a 1985 class-action lawsuit against the federal government alleging that immigrant children were being held in unsafe conditions.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Revelations in 2020 that Boohoo’s Leicester contractors were subjecting their workers to exploitative pay and unsafe conditions certainly sullied the Midlands city’s reputation.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
There’s an absent father and a clueless, neglectful mother but the five Gilbert children — Lydia, Hugo, Annabel, Jeremy and Rosalind — are essentially raising themselves in an English country house of secret passages and worrying infestations.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
23 Jan. 2026
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There’s an absent father and a clueless, neglectful mother but the five Gilbert children — Lydia, Hugo, Annabel, Jeremy and Rosalind — are essentially raising themselves in an English country house of secret passages and worrying infestations.—
Chris Hewitt,
Boston Herald,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Later that month, a reckless driver trying to flee police hit and killed a 28-year-old man.—
Francesca Pica,
jsonline.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The Oceanside City Council recently revised their e-bike ordinance to allow law enforcement to confiscate e-bikes from reckless riders.—
Hannah Elsmore,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Fighting inflation by raising interest rates is lazy policy.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
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Not to sound lazy, but there are some pretty neat inventions that have come along to make this process much easier.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Since then, at least four lawsuits filed by families of victims have claimed the school district and administrators were negligent in protecting students from Elliott’s misconduct.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Feb. 2026
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Lawsuits also claim that Celina ISD was grossly negligent and enabled Caleb Elliott's misconduct, primarily to protect the reputation of the successful football program, as Caleb Elliott is the son of Bill Elliott, the long-time head football coach and athletic director.—
S.E. Jenkins,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Careless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/careless. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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