1
as in nonchalant
having a relaxed, casual manner
a devil-may-care golfer who knows that it's only a game
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2
as in reckless
having or showing a lack of concern for the consequences of one's actions
the devil-may-care speed with which he drives his sports car is going to cause a lot of grief someday
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3
as in carefree
having or showing freedom from worries or troubles
the devil-may-care attitude that some people have about needlessly contributing to global warming
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Recent Examples of devil-may-care
Sure, but this is another bit of evidence on the pile of moments of Kate making judgment calls that can be seen as using the tools at her disposal or as devil-may-care failures to heed guidance from others.
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Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024
The movie, based on Chuck Palahniuk’s subversive novel, starred Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter and followed an insomniac office worker and a devil-may-care soap maker who form an underground fight club that evolves into much more.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2024
Our editors turned to the many muses of the decade — from Winona Ryder’s devil-may-care leather looks to Naomi Campbell’s downtown-meets-uptown girl aura — to create these ’90s fall outfit ideas that feature Coach’s best purses of the season.
—Claire Sullivan, WWD, 8 Oct. 2024
Winners Shalt Not Take the Lord’s Name in Vain
Emmy winners were only slightly devil-may-care with their language during their acceptance speeches this year, but the ABC censors had their hands right over that button the entire show.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 15 Sep. 2024
These colognes carry an edgy, devil-may-care attitude, and despite their playful connotations, the fragrance world takes liquor accords seriously.
—Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 13 Aug. 2024
Mitchell’s Hedwig is equal parts glamour and grunge, toeing the line between devil-may-care individuality and crippling self-doubt.
—Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2024
The two actors play off each other well enough, contrasting Damon’s caustic deadpan with Affleck’s devil-may-care flippancy.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Aug. 2024
Lehrer’s senior quote speaks to a kind of devil-may-care boyishness.
—Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2024
Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024
The movie, based on Chuck Palahniuk’s subversive novel, starred Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter and followed an insomniac office worker and a devil-may-care soap maker who form an underground fight club that evolves into much more.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2024
Our editors turned to the many muses of the decade — from Winona Ryder’s devil-may-care leather looks to Naomi Campbell’s downtown-meets-uptown girl aura — to create these ’90s fall outfit ideas that feature Coach’s best purses of the season.
—Claire Sullivan, WWD, 8 Oct. 2024
Winners Shalt Not Take the Lord’s Name in Vain
Emmy winners were only slightly devil-may-care with their language during their acceptance speeches this year, but the ABC censors had their hands right over that button the entire show.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 15 Sep. 2024
These colognes carry an edgy, devil-may-care attitude, and despite their playful connotations, the fragrance world takes liquor accords seriously.
—Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 13 Aug. 2024
Mitchell’s Hedwig is equal parts glamour and grunge, toeing the line between devil-may-care individuality and crippling self-doubt.
—Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2024
The two actors play off each other well enough, contrasting Damon’s caustic deadpan with Affleck’s devil-may-care flippancy.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Aug. 2024
Lehrer’s senior quote speaks to a kind of devil-may-care boyishness.
—Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devil-may-care
Adjective
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The moment was so nonchalant that Michael Porter Jr. didn’t even notice what had happened from the bench.Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 29 Nov. 2024
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Pair it with biker boots and tights to ooze nonchalant cool.Esme Benjamin, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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There’s nothing impressive about burning out in the pursuit of reckless expansion.Brent Gleeson, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024
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Anyone who saw the 1939 MGM musical version of The Wizard of Oz has the image of Margaret Hamilton’s tinted skin implanted in his psyche, but Chu’s posing the Barbie-pink fad against arsenic-green’s implications of danger proves reckless.Armond White, National Review, 27 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Each year, when the crisp autumn leaves fall to the ground, an image of a carefree Meg Ryan sporting a shaggy lob—carrying a pumpkin in one arm and shopping bags in another—circulates the internet.Ilana Kaplan, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Oct. 2024
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This idyllic atmosphere evoked a sense of carefree enjoyment, characterized by sunsets and the sounds of laughter echoing along the shoreline.Noel Burgess, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Teams that work through difficulties together, openly addressing conflicts and solving problems collaboratively, build deeper bonds than those who only interact in casual settings. 2.Louis Carter, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
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Before dinner was served, the couple, who got engaged just weeks ago, tied the knot in a casual, intimate ceremony.Erin Clack, People.com, 2 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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In 1910, a quarter of a million people had spent 10 days swooning over the Los Angeles International Aviation Meet — the nation’s first daredevil airshow.Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024
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Planes were first introduced into combat service during World War I, and the pioneering pilots who manned them became masters of the air, deploying daredevil maneuvers to outwit the enemy.Kinsey Gidick, Southern Living, 16 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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The cavalier attitude in public was clearly supposed to be fun and performative, not a parenting choice.Alexandra Bregman, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024
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French bulldogs, Boston terriers, cavalier King Charles spaniels and other brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds have become incredibly popular due to their unique appearance.Lisa Bloch, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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During that time, however, Spirit will continue to fly and has said tickets, credits, and loyalty points will be unaffected.Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 29 Nov. 2024
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YouTube, meanwhile, is unaffected, along with WhatsApp and similar messaging apps, the outlet said.Bailey Richards, People.com, 28 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The system operates on a loop of action and fallout as players take daring action and then deal with the repercussions of those actions.Rob Wieland, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
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In a daring move, Dom drives a Corvette off a cliff to rescue Brian, who first jumps off the train intp the back of the car, which then plummets off the cliff into a 15-second freefall before hitting the water below.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near devil-may-care
Cite this Entry
“Devil-may-care.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devil-may-care. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.
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