reckless

[rek-lis] / ˈrɛk lɪs /

ADJECTIVE

irresponsible in thought, deed

Synonyms

STRONGEST

audacious brash carefree careless daring foolhardy hasty ill-advised imprudent negligent thoughtless

WEAK

adventuresome adventurous any which way breakneck daredevil desperate devil-may-care fast and loose feckless harebrained headlong heedless helter-skelter hopeless hotheaded inattentive incautious inconsiderate indiscreet kooky madcap mindless overventuresome playing with fire precipitate rash regardless temerarious uncareful venturesome venturous wild

Antonyms

STRONGEST

afraid attentive careful cautious discreet fearful kind meek mindful prudent reserved shy thoughtful timid wise

WEAK

responsible wary

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.

Older generations always think younger ones are reckless, whether it’s physical risks like riding a motorcycle or financial ones like day trading leveraged ETFs.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

"This indictment is a critical step toward holding accountable those whose reckless disregard for maritime safety regulations caused this disaster."

From Barron's • May 12, 2026

Allegations of reckless conduct in the suit largely hinge on a recently released California Highway Patrol report on the crash, which analyzed the crash site and vehicles in detail.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

Surely, I thought, there must be something to the Atlantic’s piece that made it less reckless than it sounded.

From Slate • May 5, 2026

"It’s not appropriate for you to be involved with these militants. It is reckless behavior that I will not condone."

From "The Rock and the River" by Kekla Magoon

Vocabulary lists containing reckless

The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 4

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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone

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Anti-Antonyms: Words Without Opposites

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