English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
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adj

reckless

REHK-luhs
adj
1
Acting without thinking about danger or consequences; carelessly rash.
"Reckless driving is one of the leading causes of accidents."
"It was reckless of him to invest his savings without any research."

How to Use Reckless

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishNot caring about the risks or the harm your actions might cause.

Common mistake

Not the same as "careless" — reckless implies knowing there's a serious risk and ignoring it, while careless is more about simple inattention.

Common pairings
reckless driving reckless behavior reckless disregard

Word Forms

recklesser comparative, more reckless comparative, recklessest superlative, most reckless superlative

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_____ driving is one of the leading causes of accidents.

Etymology

From Old English recceleas, built from "reck" (to care or heed) plus the suffix "-less" — so literally "without care" or "heedless."

Related Words

Rhymes for reckless

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial