IRRESPONSIBILITY Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

irresponsibility

noun

Definition of irresponsibility

as in malfeasance

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of irresponsibility Desirée can so often come off a bundle of cliches of actresses of a certain age, all narcissism, hedonism and irresponsibility. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026 The most probable path remains the baseline he’s been describing since last fall — debt grinding steadily higher, periodically goosed by crises or political irresponsibility, but partially offset by technological progress and labor force growth. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 May 2026 California’s High-Speed Rail has devolved into a case study of bureaucratic incompetence and fiscal irresponsibility. — Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, Mercury News, 26 May 2026 This has ensured that fiscal irresponsibility generates solid political benefits at no political cost. — Jared Bernstein, The Atlantic, 25 May 2026 That bill is a prime example and proves current lawmakers have engaged in fiscal irresponsibility, causing near state insolvency. — Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 4 May 2026 Antisocial personality includes a persistent pattern of traits such as callousness, lack of concern, deceitfulness, and irresponsibility, Ryan said. — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026 Understandably, the error prompted fiery discussions online about the irresponsibility of allowing AI systems to report and repackage the news. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 25 Feb. 2026 That, of course, is second only to the fiscal irresponsibility of our city leaders. — U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for irresponsibility

Noun

Experts have identified three possible cases of gambling malfeasance from the 2026 World Cup.

— Chris Branch, New York Times, 24 July 2026
So far no concrete evidence has surfaced indicating malfeasance within the Justice Department in not filing charges.

— Justin Fishel, ABC News, 17 July 2026

Definition of malfeasance

Noun

It gets filed alongside carelessness, disorganization and not really trying, and the people who display it often apologize for it as though they’d been caught slacking.

— Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Either this is an issue of carelessness or a lack of communication between you and the cleaning service.

— R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of carelessness

Noun

Most of the negligence cases involved farm work carried out despite local bans, including welding.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
Federal prosecutors in Los Angeles last fall sued SoCal Edison alleging the company’s negligence caused the Eaton Fire and another blaze, seeking to recover tens of millions of dollars in damage to thousands of acres of Angeles National Forest Land.

— Denise Petski, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of negligence

Noun

Records identified the owners and operators of the funeral home as Clark and Johanna Morgan, who have a history of allegations of misconduct in the course of their work in the local funeral industry.

— Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Federal law only allows presidents to remove members of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors for cause, which usually refers to serious misconduct.

— Erin Mansfield, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of misconduct

Noun

Bates was charged in Lake Superior Court with a felony count of criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, a misdemeanor count of criminal recklessness and a misdemeanor count of public intoxication.

— Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026
Shrum has been charged with battery by means of a deadly weapon and criminal recklessness committed with a deadly weapon, according to online court records reviewed by PEOPLE.

— Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of recklessness

Noun

Sarahi Azucena Gonzalez, 22, faces one felony count of child abuse without great bodily harm and one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency or dependency of a child, according to her arrest report.

— Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
However, the rollout of these changes is marred by application glitches, payment calculation errors, erroneous delinquency notices, and massive backlogs for loan forgiveness programs.

— Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of delinquency

Browse Nearby Words

irresolution

irresponsibility

irresponsible

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Irresponsibility.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irresponsibility. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of irresponsibility

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on irresponsibility

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

pedagogical

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes