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

Choose the Right Synonym for reckless

adventurous, venturesome, daring, daredevil, rash, reckless, foolhardy mean exposing oneself to danger more than required by good sense.

adventurous implies a willingness to accept risks but not necessarily imprudence.

adventurous pioneers

venturesome implies a jaunty eagerness for perilous undertakings.

venturesome stunt pilots

daring implies fearlessness in courting danger.

daring mountain climbers

daredevil stresses ostentation in daring.

daredevil motorcyclists

rash suggests imprudence and lack of forethought.

a rash decision

reckless implies heedlessness of probable consequences.

a reckless driver

foolhardy suggests a recklessness that is inconsistent with good sense.

the foolhardy sailor ventured into the storm

Examples of reckless in a Sentence

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

The following November, Brooks was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on 76 charges, including six counts of first-degree intentional homicide and 61 counts of reckless endangerment. —Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 1 Jan. 2025

Two others pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment in the first degree and were sentenced to over two years to seven years in prison. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2024

What To Know Ian Cramer pleaded guilty in September to multiple charges, including homicide while fleeing a peace officer, preventing arrest, reckless endangerment, fleeing an officer and various drug- and driving-related offenses. —George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024

No amount of education, training or good will can overcome a pattern of poor judgement, unethical behavior and reckless or uninformed decisions. —Terina Allen, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing reckless

• reckless driving
• with reckless abandon

Kids Definition

reckless

adjective

reck·​less ˈrek-ləs 

: showing lack of caution : irresponsible, wild

recklessly adverb

recklessness noun

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