rashly

American  

[rash-lee] / ˈræʃ li /

adverb

1. too hastily or thoughtlessly; in a foolhardy or ill-advised way.

   She often reminds him not to act rashly, to think things through before acting.

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Etymology

Origin of rashly

rash ¹ ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

When you do something rashly, you act without stopping to think things through. Don't rashly promise your friend that you'll bake three dozen cookies for her party without making sure you have time to do it! Careful, thoughtful people tend not to act or speak rashly; instead, they consider the effects of their actions. A decision made rashly can have unintended consequences, like when you rashly decided to ride your bike to your grandparents' house, not stopping to think about the fact that they live 500 miles away. Rashly and the adjective rash come from a root meaning "flash of lightning." Make decisions as quick as lightning, and you make them rashly.

Example Sentences

Rashly they scrambled down a 250-ft. cliff to a wide and treacherous snow field.

From Time Magazine Archive

Rashly ignoring the warning of a wise old showman, Hollywood has at tempted to put new life into the languid old yarn about shenanigans in Revolutionary War days.

From Time Magazine Archive

Rashly Jo�o complained to a friend: "There is always plenty of money to finance processions, but to take care of the sick such as myself there never seems to be a penny."

From Time Magazine Archive

Rashly, pressed by her desire for the dresses, Esm� made up her mind to write.

From The Oyster by Peer

These begin: "Rashly, —And praised be rashness for it—Let us know Our indiscretion sometimes serves us well 17 When our deep plots do pall; and that should learn us There's a divinity" etc.

From Montaigne and Shakspere by Robertson, J. M. (John Mackinnon)