RECKLESSLY Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

recklessly

adverb

Definition of recklessly

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 But the parks department will involve law enforcement when people behave recklessly, parks director Nick Walker said. — Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 8 Oct. 2026 Court records show he's been charged with third-degree murder, strangulation, involuntary manslaughter and recklessly endangering another person. — CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026 Thiero started the summer moving too quickly through games, crashing into the lane and flying recklessly toward the rim. — Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026 On paper, the Republican senator from Missouri’s idea of punishing labs or users who have indeed acted recklessly or negligently while developing or deploying AI systems is a good one. — Letters To The Editor, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026 If an agent acts recklessly with company data—sharing proprietary code in public, for example—the same deterrents don’t apply. — Tharin Pillay, Time, 30 Sep. 2026 Individuals who recklessly violate the rules could face as much as 20 years in prison. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026 Police later spotted a vehicle matching the witness's description driving recklessly and swerving into oncoming traffic on Madison Street, according to the affidavit. — Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 23 Sep. 2026 Moorhead was was slapped with multiple felony charges — manslaughter recklessly causing the death of another person, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and three counts of first-degree reckless endangerment. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for recklessly

Adverb

Moore plays Mona, a meek, thoroughly unseen wife and mother who impulsively decides to audition for a community theater musical despite having no experience.

— Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Rather than ignore anomalies or react impulsively, strategic leaders leverage their instinct to dig deeper, stress-test assumptions and uncover what’s hidden beneath corporate polish.

— David Farbman, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of impulsively

Adverb

Her husband hurriedly shut the door and begged her to see a doctor for a tranquilizer prescription.

— Elvira Navarro, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
Antonelli hurriedly informed his race engineer, Peter Bonnington, who had been regularly reminding the Italian to adhere to track limits throughout the race and to look after his car.

— Luke Smith, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of hurriedly

Adverb

And those customers are running headfirst into what experts say is a legal gray area for flood protections.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
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

Definition of headfirst

Adverb

Because borrowing rates are unlikely to drop precipitously in the near term, a catalyst for an auto sales boom remains elusive.

— Michael Khouw, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026
Water levels dropping so precipitously threaten entire Western communities and economies, but many can’t help but be awed by how quickly Glen Canyon has recovered ecologically as the water receded.

— Story Hinckley, Christian Science Monitor, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of precipitously

Adverb

Each of the nine beauty favorites below can be haphazardly thrown from your vanity into your bag and through TSA.

— ElleAnna Revell, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Oct. 2026
The absence of a living monarch on our money, or on our travel documents, was not an accident haphazardly arrived at but a declaration of equality meant to be flourished and displayed.

— Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of haphazardly

Browse Nearby Words

reckless

recklessly

recklessness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Recklessly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recklessly. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of recklessly

adverb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

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

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

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes