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
Kevin Miller, 71, of Gayton Road, King's Lynn, Norfolk, admitted causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving at a hearing in Peterborough Crown Court, officials said.
From BBC • Feb. 24, 2026
Knocking on doors felt intrusive at best, inconsiderate at worst.
From Salon • Jan. 27, 2026
Johansson: The tightrope June walks is that she’s able to be salty, inconsiderate and rude as the Eleanor character, then balance it out with quiet moments where you see the guard slip.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 15, 2025
Like he said, I’m the only one who pays attention to the details, so it would be inconsiderate of me to not help.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
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.
