If you say that someone is unthinking, you are critical of them because you consider that they do not think carefully about the effects oftheir behaviour.
[disapproval]
He doesn't say those silly things that unthinking people say.
Bruce was no unthinking vandal.
Synonyms: thoughtless, insensitive, tactless, rude More Synonyms of unthinking
unthinkinglyadverb [usually ADVERB with verb, oft ADVERB adjective]
They use their own judgment, rather than unthinkingly obeying instructions.
More Synonyms of unthinking
unthinking in British English
(ʌnˈθɪŋkɪŋ)
adjective
1.
lacking thoughtfulness; inconsiderate
2.
heedless; inadvertent
it was done in an unthinking moment
3.
not thinking or able to think
Derived forms
unthinkingly (unˈthinkingly)
adverb
unthinkingness (unˈthinkingness)
noun
unthinking in American English
(ʌnˈθɪŋkɪŋ)
adjective
1.
a.
not stopping to think; heedless
b.
showing lack of thought, attention, or consideration
2.
lacking the ability to think; nonrational
Derived forms
unthinkingly (unˈthinkingly)
adverb
Examples of 'unthinking' in a sentence
unthinking
An unexpected, unthinking move: none of his friends could account for it.
Heller, Keith MAN'S LOVING FAMILY (2002)
Perhaps it was Thick, doing his tasks in his methodical, unthinking way.
Robin Hobb THE GOLDEN FOOL: BOOK TWO OF THE TAWNY MAN (2002)
Hunter killed and ate with careless, unthinking ease, for his real quest was for little Alba, not for the nourishment his body needed.
Hocke, Martin THE ANCIENT AND SOLITARY REIGN (2002)
She couldn't fathom why he hadn't understood; she thought he'd been obtuse, unthinking.
Stephanie Laurens ON A WICKED DAWN (2002)
1 (adjective)
Definition
thoughtless and inconsiderate
He doesn't say those silly things that unthinking people say.
Synonyms
thoughtless
a minority of thoughtless and inconsiderate people
insensitive
Her friend was insensitive and careless.
tactless
He had alienated many people with his tactless remarks.
rude
He's rude to her friends.
blundering
inconsiderate
his inconsiderate behaviour
undiplomatic
2 (adjective)
Definition
done or happening without careful consideration
Bruce was no unthinking vandal.
Synonyms
impulsive
The press claim that she is too impulsive to be a responsible prime minister.
senseless
Then I saw my boy lying senseless on the floor.
unconscious
‘You're well out of it,’ he said with unconscious brutality.
mechanical
His retort was mechanical.
rash
Don't do anything rash until the feelings subside.
careless
Office workers are notoriously careless about their passwords.
instinctive
It's an instinctive reaction. If a child falls you pick it up.
oblivious
She appeared oblivious to her surroundings.
negligent
The jury ruled that the Council had acted in a negligent manner.
unwitting
It had been an unwitting blunder on his part.
witless
inadvertent
The government has said it was an inadvertent error.
heedless
She scattered the letters about in her heedless haste.
unmindful
Opposites
deliberate,
careful
,
conscious
,
sensible
,
witting
,
mindful
,
heedful
Additional synonyms
in the sense of careless
Definition
done or acting with insufficient attention
Office workers are notoriously careless about their passwords.
Synonyms
negligent,
hasty,
unconcerned,
cursory,
perfunctory,
thoughtless,
indiscreet,
unthinking,
forgetful,
absent-minded,
inconsiderate,
heedless,
remiss (formal),
incautious,
unmindful,
regardless
in the sense of heedless
Definition
taking no notice
She scattered the letters about in her heedless haste.
Synonyms
careless,
reckless,
negligent,
rash,
precipitate,
oblivious,
foolhardy,
thoughtless,
unthinking,
imprudent,
neglectful,
inattentive,
incautious,
unmindful,
unobservant
in the sense of inadvertent
Definition
done unintentionally
The government has said it was an inadvertent error.
Synonyms
unintentional,
accidental,
unintended,
chance,
careless,
negligent,
unwitting,
unplanned,
thoughtless,
unthinking,
heedless,
unpremeditated,
unheeding
Nearby words of
unthinking
untarnished
untenable
unthinkable
unthinking
untidy
untie
until
Synonyms of 'unthinking'
unthinking
Explore 'unthinking' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of inconsiderate
Definition
lacking in care or thought for others
his inconsiderate behaviour
Synonyms
selfish,
rude,
insensitive,
self-centred,
careless,
unkind,
intolerant,
thoughtless,
unthinking,
tactless,
uncharitable,
ungracious,
indelicate
in the sense of insensitive
Definition
unaware of or ignoring other people's feelings
Her friend was insensitive and careless.
Synonyms
unfeeling,
indifferent,
unconcerned,
uncaring,
tough,
hardened,
callous,
crass,
unresponsive,
thick-skinned,
obtuse,
tactless,
imperceptive,
unsusceptible
in the sense of instinctive
Definition
done or happening without any logical thought
It's an instinctive reaction. If a child falls you pick it up.
Synonyms
natural,
inborn,
automatic,
unconscious,
mechanical,
native,
inherent,
spontaneous,
reflex,
innate,
intuitive,
subconscious,
involuntary,
visceral,
unthinking,
instinctual,
unlearned,
hard-wired,
unpremeditated,
intuitional
in the sense of mechanical
Definition
(of a task) not requiring any thought
His retort was mechanical.
Synonyms
unthinking,
routine,
automatic,
matter-of-fact,
cold,
unconscious,
instinctive,
lacklustre,
involuntary,
impersonal,
habitual,
cursory,
perfunctory,
unfeeling,
machine-like,
emotionless,
spiritless
in the sense of negligent
The jury ruled that the Council had acted in a negligent manner.
Synonyms
careless,
regardless,
slack,
thoughtless,
inadvertent,
unthinking,
forgetful,
slapdash,
neglectful,
heedless,
slipshod,
inattentive,
remiss (formal),
unmindful,
disregardful
in the sense of oblivious
Definition
unaware or unconscious
She appeared oblivious to her surroundings.
Synonyms
unaware,
unconscious,
ignorant,
regardless,
careless,
negligent,
blind to,
unaffected by,
impervious to,
forgetful,
deaf to,
unconcerned about,
neglectful,
heedless,
inattentive,
insensible,
unmindful,
unobservant,
disregardful,
incognizant
in the sense of rash
Definition
acting or done without proper thought or consideration
Don't do anything rash until the feelings subside.
Synonyms
reckless,
hasty,
impulsive,
imprudent,
premature,
adventurous,
careless,
precipitate,
brash,
audacious,
headlong,
madcap,
ill-advised,
foolhardy,
unwary,
thoughtless,
unguarded,
headstrong,
impetuous,
indiscreet,
unthinking,
helter-skelter,
ill-considered,
hot-headed,
heedless,
injudicious,
incautious,
venturesome,
harebrained,
harum-scarum
in the sense of rude
Definition
insulting or impolite
He's rude to her friends.
Synonyms
impolite,
insulting,
cheeky,
abrupt,
short,
blunt,
abusive,
curt,
churlish,
disrespectful,
brusque,
offhand,
impertinent,
insolent,
inconsiderate,
peremptory,
impudent,
discourteous,
uncivil,
unmannerly,
ill-mannered
in the sense of senseless
Definition
unconscious
Then I saw my boy lying senseless on the floor.
Synonyms
unconscious,
stunned,
insensible,
out,
cold,
numb,
numbed,
deadened,
unfeeling,
out cold,
anaesthetized,
insensate
in the sense of tactless
He had alienated many people with his tactless remarks.
Synonyms
insensitive,
thoughtless,
inconsiderate,
sharp,
rough,
harsh,
rude,
blundering,
careless,
clumsy,
inept,
unkind,
gauche,
indiscreet,
boorish,
unfeeling,
imprudent,
impolite,
unsubtle,
discourteous,
injudicious,
indelicate,
undiplomatic,
uncivil,
maladroit,
impolitic
Additional synonyms
in the sense of unconscious
Definition
not realized or intended
‘You're well out of it,’ he said with unconscious brutality.