1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

recklessly

adverb

Definition of recklesslynext
as in impulsively

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 recklessly Prosecutors allege Beckett recklessly caused the child's death after drunkenly placing the girl inside the spa tub at the hotel. — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026 Diontae Nicole Beckett, 25, is accused of recklessly causing the infant's death on May 11. — ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026 But this family project has lofty goals in mind and has charged recklessly at them. — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026 They were accused of driving recklessly and hindering traffic in the busy entertainment district. — Michelle Richardson, CBS News, 7 Sep. 2026 Many boaters say no changes are needed, saying the problem is not speed or engine size, but drunken boaters driving recklessly. — Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2026 Police received 911 calls about four dirt-bike riders driving fast and recklessly along Collins Avenue in the Art Deco District. — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026 Silver finished what the infamous Uncle Dennis had so recklessly started, really. — Sam Amick, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 Minutes later, police got a report that the SUV drove recklessly past responding patrol vehicles and abruptly pulled into a nearby Walgreens parking lot on North Milpitas Boulevard. — Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 1 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recklessly
  1. impulsively
  2. impetuously
  3. rashly
  4. hurriedly
  5. thoughtlessly
  6. headfirst
  7. precipitously
  8. haphazardly
Adverb
  • When Judy somewhat impulsively leads a pack of protesters inside the SF federal building, what follows will only spark further change.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Frankie impulsively breaks Taylor out of hospice care for one final night of fun and debauchery, but what promises to be a night of hedonism quickly becomes something much more complicated.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of impulsively
Adverb
  • Moreover, Elliott does not act impetuously in its activism.
    — Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2025
Definition of impetuously
Adverb
  • After rashly stealing a man’s cigarette lighter on the subway, Ingeborg trips while making her getaway, resulting in a tibia fracture that threatens to take her out of commission for months on end.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026
  • No one should approach the AI situation rashly.
    — Revana Sharfuddin, Twin Cities, 31 May 2026
Definition of rashly
Adverb
  • So, while the others dither and hurriedly search for late additions, Arsenal have reinforced an already formidable base.
    — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Smoke filled the inside of the shopping center as people hurriedly tried to leave, videos filmed at the scene show.
    — Kosta Gak, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of hurriedly
Adverb
  • The floor was covered with water, and the guard was thoughtlessly dropping files into it.
    — Amer Matar, The Dial, 26 May 2026
  • There is a deep care and respect in every choice made, and no change is made lightly, no cut is made thoughtlessly.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Apr. 2026
Definition of thoughtlessly
Adverb
  • Meanwhile, Alpenglow Expeditions founder Adrian Ballinger, is constantly leaning headfirst into uncertainties, having led more than 150 climbs across six continents, most impressively summiting Mount Everest 10 times.
    — Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 16 July 2026
  • Determined to raise Maddy as a single father, Matt is thrown headfirst into the complexities of parenthood in all its forms, but as Maddy grows up and begins to realize her mother's absence, things become more emotionally complex.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 19 June 2026
Definition of headfirst
Adverb
  • In fact, the number of OEMs that reported being satisfied with their reshoring results dropped precipitously in 2026 to 65 percent, down from 96 percent in 2025.
    — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026
  • When the days are hot and sticky, the motivation to cook tends to drop precipitously.
    — Hana Asbrink, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of precipitously
Adverb
  • But while the buildings appeared to be marble, they were actually made of extremely flammable plaster, pine, hemp and jute — all haphazardly draped with live electrical wires.
    — Alison J. Stein, HubSpot, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The fourth hour began haphazardly as the Today With Jenna & Sheinelle camera operator tripped over a chair during their intro segment.
    — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of haphazardly

Browse Nearby Words

reckless
recklessly
recklessness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Recklessly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recklessly. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of facsimile

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

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

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All