Meaning & use
reckless
Last updated
UK/ˈrek.ləs/
US/ˈrek.ləs/
Usage warning: this word is disapproving. It shows a negative opinion, so take care with who and what you use it about.
Meaning
adjectivecomparabledisapproving
Showing no care about the danger or damage that your actions may cause.
Grammar: Before a noun or after a linking verb: reckless driving; it was reckless of him.
Patterns
- reckless of something
- it is reckless to do something
He was fined for reckless driving.
It was reckless to swim so far from shore.
Reckless spending left them in debt.
Word forms
| comparative | more reckless |
|---|---|
| superlative | most reckless |
Common combinations
- reckless driving
- Reckless driving causes many crashes.
- reckless behavior
- His reckless behavior worried his parents.
- reckless disregard
- She acted with reckless disregard for safety.
- reckless abandon
- They danced with reckless abandon.
- reckless endangerment
- He was charged with reckless endangerment.
Synonyms and how they differ
- careless
- Careless can describe an accidental slip, while reckless means ignoring a danger you can see.
- rash
- Rash stresses acting too quickly without thought, rather than ignoring a known risk.
- irresponsible
- Irresponsible judges failure of duty and does not always involve danger.
- foolhardy
- Foolhardy suggests bold but stupid risk taking, usually by an individual.
Opposites
Word family
- recklessly adverb
- in a way that ignores danger
- recklessness noun
- the quality of being reckless
- reck verb
- an archaic word meaning to care about
Commonly confused: reckless or wreckless?
reckless vs wreckless
This is a common misspelling; the correct word has no w and means ignoring danger.
Practice
Overtaking on a blind bend is ___, because the driver ignores an obvious danger.
Choose one answer.
Reckless means ignoring risk. Careful, prudent and cautious all mean the opposite.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “reckless”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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