recklessly

American  

[rek-lis-lee] / ˈrɛk lɪs li /

adverb

1. with no concern about the consequences of one's action; carelessly.

   He lived recklessly, without any regard for his own safety or the safety of others.

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Etymology

Origin of recklessly

reckless ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

Acting recklessly means doing something without stopping to think about the consequences of your action. If you recklessly throw a football near your neighbor's house, you may end up paying to repair a broken window. The adverb recklessly is nearly the same as carelessly, with one difference: doing something recklessly implies that your action is potentially dangerous in some way. Driving recklessly is always a terrible idea, as is recklessly spending every last dollar in your bank account. This risky word can be traced back to the Old English receleas, "careless, thoughtless, or heedless."

Example Sentences

Recklessly releasing such inaccurate, unverified information does nothing for the good of the public and simply creates an environment of confusion and bitterness during a time in which so many are wanting their voices heard.

From Salon • Jun. 16, 2020

Recklessly, Manafort chose to lie about these contacts to investigators who had already demonstrated their ability to search his e-mail and text history.

From The New Yorker • Dec. 8, 2018

Recklessly, I said to him, “I think Vanity Fair is after me.”

From MSNBC • Nov. 15, 2017

Recklessly means he consciously disregarded the substantial risk posed by his actions.

From Slate • Feb. 29, 2016

Recklessly and flippantly as she had described it, an impression had been produced on her.

From The Legacy of Cain by Collins, Wilkie

Related Words

• carelessly
• foolishly