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.—
Shakespeare
Shakespeare3
: not showing or receiving care:
b
: unstudied, spontaneous
a careless grace
a careless glance
c
obsolete
: unvalued, disregarded
carelessly
adverb
carelessness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of careless in a Sentence
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
Kansas City Chiefs team doctor Michael Monaco pleaded guilty to misdemeanor careless driving Friday after fatally striking a ‘Good Samaritan’ at the scene of a highway crash in November 2023.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 11 May 2024
That was behind speed and improper turning, but ahead of drinking alcohol, careless passing and tailgating.
—Marc Levy, Fortune, 10 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for careless 
Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 11 May 2024
That was behind speed and improper turning, but ahead of drinking alcohol, careless passing and tailgating.
—Marc Levy, Fortune, 10 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for careless
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'careless.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near careless
Cite this Entry
“Careless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/careless. Accessed 17 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
careless
adjective
care·less
ˈke(ə)r-ləs 
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
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