reckless

[rek-lis]

See more synonyms for reckless on Thesaurus.com

adjective

utterly unconcerned about the consequences of some action; without caution; careless (usually followed by of): to be reckless of danger.
characterized by or proceeding from such carelessness: reckless extravagance.

Origin of reckless

before 900; Middle English rekles, Old English reccelēas careless (cognate with German ruchlos); see reck, -less

Related formsreck·less·ly, adverbreck·less·ness, noun

Can be confusedfeckless reckless

Synonyms for reckless

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1. rash, heedless, incautious, negligent, imprudent.

Antonyms for reckless

1. careful.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for reckless

foolhardy, thoughtless, daring, brash, hasty, audacious, carefree, negligent, careless, ill-advised, imprudent, adventurous, breakneck, daredevil, desperate, devil-may-care, feckless, harebrained, headlong, heedless

Examples from the Web for reckless

Contemporary Examples of reckless

In 2002, he was arrested for reckless driving after swerving his SUV off the highway.
Creed Singer Scott Stapp’s Fall From Grace: From 40 Million Albums Sold to Living in a Holiday Inn
Marlow Stern
November 27, 2014
It starts with a bright, trebly guitar, sets the beat, and finally spins into a kind of reckless abandon.
Greil Marcus Talks About Trying to Unlock Rock and Roll in 10 Songs
Allen Barra
November 17, 2014
And The Prize Is Death, a cartoon by Albert Levering, attacks an epidemic of reckless driving.
The Magazine That Made—and Unmade—Politicians
Anthony Haden-Guest
November 2, 2014
Sensational and often reckless reports in the press threaten the fairness of a trial.
The Myth of the Central Park Five
Edward Conlon
October 19, 2014
How could things in Ukraine have deteriorated to the point where Putin was now engaged in such a reckless act of aggression?
Why Putin Let MH17 Get Shot Down
James Miller
July 18, 2014

Historical Examples of reckless

You have been of the reckless deportment—you may still be of it.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
You shall be reckless as you like—but without your stored energy surplus to harm you.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
Sidney was thoroughly angry by this time, angry and reckless.
K
Mary Roberts Rinehart
He gave the wheel a reckless twist, and Le Moyne called him to time sternly.
K
Mary Roberts Rinehart
"No, no; thank you," gasped the boy, aghast at the reckless audacity of the proposal.
In the Midst of Alarms
Robert Barr

British Dictionary definitions for reckless

reckless

adjective

having or showing no regard for danger or consequences; heedless; rasha reckless driver; a reckless attempt

Derived Formsrecklessly, adverbrecklessness, noun

Word Origin for reckless

Old English recceleās (see reck, -less); related to Middle Dutch roekeloos, Old High German ruahhalōs

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for reckless

adj.

Old English receleas "careless, thoughtless, heedless," earlier reccileas, from *rece, recce "care, heed," from reccan "to care" (see reck (v.)) + -less. The same affixed form is in German ruchlos, Dutch roekeloos "wicked." Root verb reck (Old English reccan) is passing into obscurity.