ill-considered
Americanadjective
adjective
Etymology
Origin of ill-considered
First recorded in 1825–35
Explanation
When something is ill-considered, it hasn't been carefully thought through, like your cousin's ill-considered idea to adopt six rabbits and let them run loose around his house. The adjective ill-considered describes decisions that are made impulsively, without enough contemplation of the pros and cons. Marrying someone the day after you met them would be ill-considered, and so would jumping off the garage roof into a pile of leaves while holding an umbrella to slow your descent. If you stopped and considered the possible consequences, you'd probably make a different choice!
Vocabulary lists containing ill-considered
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.
The notion is just as ill-considered as Mr. Platner’s deleted social media posts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
Decades ago, another youthful big-city mayor ran an ill-considered campaign for governor, finishing a distant fourth and failing to muster even double-digit support.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2026
These qualities often result in impetuous and ill-considered actions and decisions.’
From Slate ● Feb. 1, 2025
They dedicate enormous time and resources to sending a reporter to Brown University to stick a microphone in a 19-year-old's face, so they'll say a slightly ill-considered thing.
From Salon ● Oct. 8, 2024
I practically spat on the floor, which would have horrified Elisabet more than the ill-considered use of twenty million dollars.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
