adj
Common
reckless
REHK-luhs
Reckless (adj) means acting without thinking about danger or consequences; carelessly rash. Example: “Reckless driving is one of the leading causes of accidents.”
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."
"Climbing the cliff without a rope was a reckless thing to do."
How to use reckless
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Comparative
- recklesser, more reckless
- Superlative
- recklessest, most reckless
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ 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."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for reckless
See all rhymes for reckless →Frequently asked questions
What does “reckless” mean?
The word “reckless” means acting without thinking about danger or consequences; carelessly rash. In plain terms, not caring about the risks or the harm your actions might cause.
How do you pronounce “reckless”?
“Reckless” is pronounced REHK-luhs (/ˈɹɛkləs/ in IPA).
How do you use “reckless” in a sentence?
Here is “reckless” used in a sentence: “Reckless driving is one of the leading causes of accidents.”
What is another word for “reckless”?
Words with a similar meaning to “reckless” include daring, devil-may-care, headstrong, heedless, impetuous and imprudent.
What is the opposite of “reckless”?
The opposite of “reckless” — its antonyms — are reckful, attentive, audient, careful and cautious.
What part of speech is “reckless”?
“Reckless” is an adjective.
Where does the word “reckless” come from?
The word “reckless” comes from Old English. From Old English recceleas, built from "reck" (to care or heed) plus the suffix "-less" — so literally "without care" or "heedless.".
Is “reckless” a common word?
“Reckless” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between reckless and negligent?
Reckless describes acting without thinking about danger or consequences, often with an awareness that the behavior is risky but disregarding it anyway. Negligent describes a failure to take reasonable care, which may happen through carelessness or inattention rather than conscious disregard. In legal contexts, recklessness generally implies a higher degree of blame than simple negligence.
What is the difference between reckless and brave?
Reckless behavior ignores real danger and likely consequences, while brave behavior involves facing danger with awareness and often for a worthwhile reason. A person who runs into a burning building to save someone is brave; a person who does dangerous stunts purely for a dare, with no thought for the risk, is being reckless.
What kinds of nouns commonly follow reckless?
Reckless frequently appears in set phrases such as reckless driving, reckless behavior, reckless spending, and reckless disregard. These collocations typically describe actions taken without proper regard for safety, money, or consequences, and 'reckless driving' in particular is a specific legal charge in many places.
