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
Derived Forms
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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Ollie in Between
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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.
He added: "While inconsiderate parking did not hinder the emergency response on this occasion, in incidents such as this, emergency services require immediate access, and poorly parked vehicles could significantly delay our ability to respond."
From BBC • May 27, 2026
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
“We were extremely inconsiderate, insular and uncommunicative with each other that things like that always spilled on the sidelines,” the drummer said on the podcast.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026
He typed the date and salutation and plunged straight into a conventional apology for his “clumsy and inconsiderate behavior.”
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
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.
