careless

1 of 2

adjective

care·​less ˈker-ləs How to pronounce careless (audio)
Synonyms of carelessnext
1
a
: free from care : untroubled
careless days
b
: indifferent, unconcerned
careless of the consequences
2
: not taking care
My brother was too careless of his charge.—William Shakespeare
3
: not showing or receiving care:
a
: negligent, slovenly
careless writing
b
: unstudied, spontaneous
a careless grace
a careless glance
c
obsolete : unvalued, disregarded
carelessly adverb
carelessness noun

care less

2 of 2

phrase

: not to care
—used positively and negatively with the same meaning
I could care less what happens. = I couldn't care less what happens.

Synonyms of careless

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Adjective

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Examples of careless in a Sentence

Adjective He is a careless worker. She was careless with my things. It was a careless mistake. a newspaper known for careless reporting
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
Fabian Hurzeler’s side have been a little careless too, with no team making more errors leading to a shot than their five (including Lavia’s goal at the weekend). — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 But Simpson wasn’t the only careless player in that Pro Bowl as there were 15 fumbles in the game, but only eight were lost. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026
Phrase
Republican voters care less about labels than about whether politicians can make their lives more affordable, Vang added. — Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026 But, unlike during the pandemic, home buyers will care less about outdoor space and focus more on indoor space where the air quality is controllable. — Daryl Fairweather, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for careless

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see care entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrase

1966, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of careless was before the 12th century

Rhymes for careless

See All Rhymes for careless

Browse Nearby Words

caregiver
careless
care less
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Careless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/careless. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

careless

adjective
care·​less ˈke(ə)r-ləs How to pronounce careless (audio)
ˈka(ə)r-
1
: free from care : not troubled
2
: not taking proper care
a careless worker
3
: done, made, or said without proper care
a careless mistake
carelessly adverb
carelessness noun

Legal Definition

careless

adjective
care·​less
: not showing due care : negligent
careless driving
compare reckless
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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