reckless
adjective
reck·less ˈre-kləs 
1
: marked by lack of proper caution : careless of consequences
2
: irresponsible
reckless charges
recklessly adverb
recklessness noun
Synonyms
- daredevil
- devil-may-care
- foolhardy
- harum-scarum
- hell-for-leather
- irresponsible
- kamikaze
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He is a wild and reckless young man. He showed a reckless disregard for the safety of others. He spends money with reckless abandon.
Recent Examples on the Web Pekrul was charged in February 2021 with first-degree reckless homicide with use of a dangerous weapon. 
Bob Dohr, Journal Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2022 Linton is accused by the district attorney of reckless disregard for life in connection with the multi-vehicle crash. Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2022 There must be an intent to harm with prior knowledge that what was said is false, or a reckless disregard for the truth. Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Aug. 2022 Bost, 57, was charged with one count of first-degree reckless homicide, use of a dangerous weapon and four counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, use of a dangerous weapon. Pilar Arias | Fox News, Fox News, 7 Sep. 2022 Pouring roughly half trillion dollars of gasoline on the inflationary fire that is already burning is reckless. Tristan Bove, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2022 But adding hundreds of billions of new spending is still reckless. Stephen Moore, WSJ, 22 Aug. 2022 Republicans have blasted the legislation as reckless spending. Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 13 Aug. 2022 But the country is now essentially out of money, and many people are living on the edge, a result of poor political decisions, reckless spending and economic mismanagement. New York Times, 3 Aug. 2022 See More
Bob Dohr, Journal Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2022 Linton is accused by the district attorney of reckless disregard for life in connection with the multi-vehicle crash. Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2022 There must be an intent to harm with prior knowledge that what was said is false, or a reckless disregard for the truth. Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Aug. 2022 Bost, 57, was charged with one count of first-degree reckless homicide, use of a dangerous weapon and four counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, use of a dangerous weapon. Pilar Arias | Fox News, Fox News, 7 Sep. 2022 Pouring roughly half trillion dollars of gasoline on the inflationary fire that is already burning is reckless. Tristan Bove, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2022 But adding hundreds of billions of new spending is still reckless. Stephen Moore, WSJ, 22 Aug. 2022 Republicans have blasted the legislation as reckless spending. Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 13 Aug. 2022 But the country is now essentially out of money, and many people are living on the edge, a result of poor political decisions, reckless spending and economic mismanagement. New York Times, 3 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing reckless
Kids Definition
reckless
adjective
reck·less ˈre-kləs
: showing lack of caution : engaging in wild careless behavior
Legal Definition
reckless
adjective
reck·less
: characterized by the creation of a substantial and unjustifiable risk to the lives, safety, or rights of others and by a conscious and sometimes wanton and willful disregard for or indifference to that risk that is a gross deviation from the standard of care a reasonable person would exercise in like circumstances see also involuntary manslaughter at manslaughter, reckless homicide at homicide, recklessness compare careless
recklessly
adverb
as in impulsively
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- impulsively
- impetuously
- rashly
- hurriedly
- haphazardly
- headfirst
- precipitously
- thoughtlessly
- precipitately
- headily
- automatically
- cursorily
- hastily
- abruptly
- hotheadedly
- headlong
- hotfoot
- impatiently
- glancingly
- impromptu
- offhandedly
- spontaneously
- suddenly
- offhand
- pell-mell
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- deliberately
- designedly
- circumspectly
- slowly
- tentatively
- hesitantly
- studiedly
- haltingly
- hesitatingly
- leisurely
- calculatingly
- falteringly