HEEDLESSNESS Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

heedlessness

noun

as in negligence

failure to take the care that a cautious person usually takes the dog's lack of protection against rabies was purely due to his owner's heedlessness

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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 heedlessness Holden’s moral rigor is refreshing in a cultural moment marked by an unsettling mix of cynicism and heedlessness. — Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026 The heedlessness of the children has touched her mood. — Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for heedlessness

Noun

Earlier this year, two men, Christopher Sage and Terry Thompson, sued DraftKings, FanDuel and other companies for negligence, design defect, failure to warn, unfair trade practices and related claims.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 1 Sep. 2026
After the crash, Bustillos was charged with one count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.

— Jacob Sisneros, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of negligence

Noun

It gets filed alongside carelessness, disorganization and not really trying, and the people who display it often apologize for it as though they’d been caught slacking.

— Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Either this is an issue of carelessness or a lack of communication between you and the cleaning service.

— R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of carelessness

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heedlessly

heedlessness

heeds

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“Heedlessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heedlessness. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of heedlessness

noun

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