incautious

American  

[in-kaw-shuhs] / ɪnˈkɔ ʃəs /

adjective

1. not cautious; careless; reckless; heedless.

   Synonyms:

   headstrong, hotheaded, brash, rash

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incautious British  

/ ɪnˈkɔːʃəs /

adjective

1. not careful or cautious

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Other Word Forms

• incautiously adverb
• incautiousness noun

Etymology

Origin of incautious

1695–1705; in- ³ + cautious; compare Latin incautus in same sense

Explanation

If you're incautious, you don't worry about problems that might come up — you're a little irresponsible. An incautious person might paddle off in a kayak without putting a life jacket on. Incautious behavior might include betting your whole paycheck on a poker game, bringing six stray dogs home, or lighting a bottle rocket and launching it from your hand. Incautious children are probably used to hearing adults telling them to be careful. Incautious is a combination of in-, "not" and cautious, "careful." It's derived from the Latin adjective incautus stemming from the noun cautionem, "caution, care, or foresight."

Example Sentences

It’s difficult to think of a precedent for such a display of raw, intimate and incautious anger, especially at an event known for its glamorous but choreographed formality.

From Washington Post • Mar. 28, 2022

Mr. Biden, as rendered by Mr. Biden, is a particularly vivid character, unguarded and at times politically incautious.

From New York Times • Jun. 11, 2020

And media training seems to have been another incautious palace economy.

From The Guardian • Nov. 16, 2019

This might then leave us with the impression of Levine as overly cautious in some ways but in others, particularly when his conducting was unflinchingly introspective or orgiastic, altogether incautious.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 21, 2017

From all the available evidence, there seemed to be little doubt that McCandless—rash and incautious by nature—had committed a careless blunder, confusing one plant for another, and died as a consequence.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer