devil-may-care

adjective

dev·​il-may-care ˌde-vᵊl-(ˌ)mā-ˈker How to pronounce devil-may-care (audio)
Synonyms of devil-may-carenext
: easygoing, carefree
a devil-may-care attitude

Synonyms of devil-may-care

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Examples of devil-may-care in a Sentence

a devil-may-care golfer who knows that it's only a game the devil-may-care speed with which he drives his sports car is going to cause a lot of grief someday the devil-may-care attitude that some people have about needlessly contributing to global warming
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.
The hotel itself is staffed by a small but merry cadre of Lost Boys whose endearing mix of irreverence and can-doism gives the hotel its cool, devil-may-care personality. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026 Pixie shag Somewhere between pixie and bixie lies this shaggy devil-may-care crop. — Loren Savini, Allure, 14 Aug. 2026 Oliver is modern romance-novel perfect – handsome with devil-may-care hair. — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 24 July 2026 Stokes is set for the role of Ronnie Whitlock, who leads with an outlaw smile and a devil-may-care attitude, a fire burning within him. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for devil-may-care

Word History

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of devil-may-care was in 1799

Rhymes for devil-may-care

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Browse Nearby Words

devilman
devil-may-care
devilment
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Cite this Entry

“Devil-may-care.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/devil-may-care. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

devil-may-care

adjective
dev·​il-may-care
ˌdev-əl-(ˌ)mā-ˈke(ə)r, 
-ˈka(ə)r
: easygoing, carefree
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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