thoughtless
Americanadjective
-
lacking in consideration for others; inconsiderate; tactless.
a thoughtless remark.
- Synonyms:
- neglectful, negligent
-
characterized by or showing lack of thought.
a shallow, thoughtless book.
-
not thinking enough; careless or heedless.
thoughtless of his health.
- Synonyms:
- remiss, inattentive
-
devoid of or lacking capacity for thought.
adjective
-
inconsiderate
a thoughtless remark
-
having or showing lack of thought
a thoughtless essay
-
unable to think; not having the power of thought
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of thoughtless
Explanation
When you're thoughtless about something, you don't spend much time thinking about what the consequences or effects on others might be. Smashing your neighbor's Jack-o-lantern was a thoughtless impulse you immediately regretted. If you've ever said, "I didn't really think about it hurting someone's feelings—I just did it," you've acted in a thoughtless way. This adjective is always at least a little bit negative, basically the opposite of thoughtful. It's thoughtless to invite everyone except the new kid at school to your birthday party, and it's thoughtless to throw trash on the ground instead of in a trash can. It's always better to stop and think first!
Vocabulary lists containing thoughtless
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.
Thoughtless persons annoy patrons and endanger the safety of others by lighting matches or smoking in the prohibited areas during the performances and intermissions.
From Slate • Jun. 5, 2019
Q. Thoughtless SIL Sharing Pregnancy News: I recently became pregnant after four years of fertility treatments.
From Slate • Jan. 27, 2014
Q. Re: Thoughtless pregnancy: My cousin and I were born two days apart and our moms were even in the same hospital room.
From Slate • Jan. 27, 2014
Thoughtless designers have always caused such problems, but now face new challenges, many of which are linked to digitization.
From New York Times • Jan. 25, 2010
Thoughtless girls who’d ventured out across the ice on the rain barrel on a fateful day of freeze and thaw.
From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck
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.
