careless

UK: /ˈkɛə^rləs/ US: /ˈkɛrlɪs/ ,(kâr′lis)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

care•less /ˈkɛrlɪs/   adj. 

1. not paying enough attention to what one does:
   He made a few careless mistakes on that exam.
2. not exact or accurate:
   careless work.
3. [ sometimes: ~ + of] without thinking of results;
   heedless or indifferent:
   careless of other people's feelings.
4. not caring or troubling;
   unconcerned:
   a careless little laugh.

care•less•ly, adv. 
care•less•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

care•less  (kâr′lis), adj. 

1. not paying enough attention to what one does:
   a careless typist.
2. not exact, accurate, or thorough:
   careless work.
3. done or said heedlessly or negligently;
   unconsidered:
   a careless remark.
4. not caring or troubling;
   having no care or concern;
   unconcerned (usually fol. by of, about, or in):
   careless of the rights of others;
   careless about one's behavior;
   careless in speech.
5. possessed or caused without effort or art;
   unstudied:
   careless beauty.
6. [Archaic.] free from anxiety.

• bef. 1000; Middle English; Old English carlēas. See care, -less

care′less•ly, adv. 
care′less•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. inattentive, incautious, unwary, indiscreet, reckless.
• 2. inaccurate, negligent.
• 3. unthoughtful, unmindful.
• 4. thoughtless, forgetful; inconsiderate.

Antonyms

• 1. –4. careful.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

careless / ˈkɛəlɪs/ adjective

1. done with or acting with insufficient attention; negligent
2. often followed by in, of, or about: unconcerned in attitude or action; heedless; indifferent (to)
3. (usually prenominal) carefree
4. (usually prenominal) unstudied; artless: an impression of careless elegance

ˈcarelessly adverb

ˈcarelessness noun