careless

/ˈkɛərləs/

/ˈkɛələs/

When you're careless about something, you're not giving it much attention or consideration. If you're careless about mowing the lawn, you might mow over your mother's prized daffodils without even noticing.

When you say, "I couldn't care less" about something, you're probably going to be pretty careless about it, too. If you couldn’t care less about your homework, then you'll approach it in a careless manner, without much thought or concentration. Careless is negative, but it’s a little less so when it means effortless and unstudied, the way you might bat away a bug with a careless swat. Interestingly, the root meaning of care is "grief," so careless is "without grief."

Definitions of careless

1. adjective

   marked by lack of attention or consideration or forethought or thoroughness; not careful
   “careless about her clothes”

   “forgotten by some careless person”

   “a careless housekeeper”

   “careless proofreading”

   “it was a careless mistake”

   “hurt by a careless remark”

   synonyms:

   inattentive

   showing a lack of attention or care

   casual, cursory, passing, perfunctory

   hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough

   haphazard, slapdash, slipshod, sloppy

   marked by great carelessness

   heedless, reckless

   characterized by careless unconcern

   incautious

   carelessly failing to exercise proper caution

   offhand, offhanded

   casually thoughtless or inconsiderate

   incautious

   lacking in caution

   unconcerned

   lacking in interest or care or feeling

   negligent

   characterized by neglect and undue lack of concern

   superficial

   concerned with or comprehending only what is apparent or obvious; not deep or penetrating emotionally or intellectually

   imprudent

   not prudent or wise

   antonyms:

   careful

   exercising caution or showing care or attention

   blow-by-blow

   providing great detail

   certain, sure

   exercising or taking care great enough to bring assurance

   close

   rigorously attentive; strict and thorough

   conscientious, painstaking, scrupulous

   characterized by extreme care and great effort

   detailed, elaborate, elaborated

   developed or executed with care and in minute detail

   minute, narrow

   characterized by painstaking care and detailed examination

   overcareful, too-careful

   excessively or unduly careful

   particular

   providing specific details or circumstances

   protective

   (usually followed by `of') solicitously caring or mindful

   studious

   marked by care and effort

   thorough

   painstakingly careful and accurate

   cautious

   showing careful forethought

   diligent

   characterized by care and perseverance in carrying out tasks

   prudent

   careful and sensible; marked by sound judgment
2. adjective

   (usually followed by `of') without due thought or consideration
   “careless of the consequences”

   synonyms: regardless

   heedless, unheeding

   marked by or paying little heed or attention
3. adjective

   effortless and unstudied
   “an impression of careless elegance”

   “danced with careless grace”

   synonyms:

   artless

   simple and natural; without cunning or deceit