thoughtless
Americanadjective
-
lacking in consideration for others; inconsiderate; tactless.
a thoughtless remark.
- Synonyms:
- neglectful, negligent
-
characterized by or showing lack of thought.
a shallow, thoughtless book.
-
not thinking enough; careless or heedless.
thoughtless of his health.
- Synonyms:
- remiss, inattentive
-
devoid of or lacking capacity for thought.
adjective
-
inconsiderate
a thoughtless remark
-
having or showing lack of thought
a thoughtless essay
-
unable to think; not having the power of thought
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of thoughtless
Explanation
When you're thoughtless about something, you don't spend much time thinking about what the consequences or effects on others might be. Smashing your neighbor's Jack-o-lantern was a thoughtless impulse you immediately regretted. If you've ever said, "I didn't really think about it hurting someone's feelings—I just did it," you've acted in a thoughtless way. This adjective is always at least a little bit negative, basically the opposite of thoughtful. It's thoughtless to invite everyone except the new kid at school to your birthday party, and it's thoughtless to throw trash on the ground instead of in a trash can. It's always better to stop and think first!
Vocabulary lists containing thoughtless
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.
But only you know your daughter, and you probably have a better idea of whether this was a deliberate insult or just a thoughtless remark, because these kinds of comments don’t happen in isolation.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026
It is absolutely thoughtless, shallow and unwise in every way you can imagine.
From Salon ● Jun. 15, 2026
Showed courage in the first innings to put a first-Test pair behind him and looked good in the second until a thoughtless shot.
From BBC ● Dec. 7, 2025
A well-chosen pair of socks isn’t a thoughtless gift.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 28, 2025
“You should try to think of these things. It seems to me you’re getting very thoughtless lately.”
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
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.
