inconsiderate
Americanadjective
-
without due regard for the rights or feelings of others.
It was inconsiderate of him to keep us waiting.
- Synonyms:
- rude, uncaring, insensitive
-
acting without consideration; thoughtless; heedless.
-
overhasty; rash; ill-considered.
slovenly, inconsiderate reasoning.
adjective
-
lacking in care or thought for others; heedless; thoughtless
-
rare insufficiently considered
Other Word Forms
- inconsiderately adverb
- inconsiderateness noun
- inconsideration noun
Etymology
Origin of inconsiderate
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English word from Latin word inconsīderātus. See in- 3, considerate
Explanation
Inconsiderate behavior is rude: it doesn't take into consideration the feelings of other people. When you're considerate, you're polite and thoughtful. You consider other people's feelings. When you add the prefix -in (not) to considerate, you get its opposite. Not writing a thank-you note for a gift is inconsiderate. Not returning a phone call is inconsiderate. Not inviting a friend to a party is inconsiderate. Most inconsiderate behavior is also selfish.
Vocabulary lists containing inconsiderate
"The Fast and the Fuel-Efficient" and "Teens Open Doors"
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Shouting at the Rain
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Paper Things
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I believed I was forging a path for her, but she saw my varsity moves as inconsiderate and selfish.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026
“We were extremely inconsiderate, insular and uncommunicative with each other that things like that always spilled on the sidelines,” the drummer said on the podcast.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026
The tongue-out trend, like many of its kind, began as something "obnoxious and inconsiderate, rather than inherently hostile", he says.
From BBC • Nov. 14, 2025
"And if you do get a driving without due care or inconsiderate driving conviction," says PC Woodward, "typically, insurance companies put your policy up by about 40% each year."
From BBC • Aug. 30, 2025
Jam didn’t want to be rude, or inconsiderate, so she went back to bed.
From "Pet" by Akwaeke Emezi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
