recklessreck‧less /ˈrekləs/ ●○○ adjective 
He was accused of causing death by reckless driving. a reckless disregard for safety He ran into the burning house with reckless abandon (=without caring about the danger).► see thesaurus at careless—recklessly adverb—recklessness noun [uncountable]
WORD ORIGINreckless
Origin:
Old English recceleasEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- reckless spending
- a reckless disregard for human life
- The driver of the car was arrested for reckless driving.
- young men recklessly risking their lives in dangerous sports
- An additional 28 persons were suspected of drunken or reckless driving.
- He admitted two offences of taking a car without consent, reckless driving and driving while disqualified.
- She would leave at the first opportunity, and never again would she listen to the reckless promptings of her heart.
- That is where we are: wild, reckless, and deeply in hock.
- The same act could be both this form of manslaughter and reckless manslaughter.
- The threats were dire enough to make the Republicans look reckless when they refused to budge.
- We want our leaders to be tough, but not reckless.
THESAURUS
not paying enough attention to what you are doing, so that you make mistakes, damage things etc: · I made a few careless mistakes.· It was careless of you to leave your purse lying about.· He started getting careless about taking his medication.
often dropping or breaking things because you move around in a careless way: · I’m so clumsy, I spilt milk all over the floor.· a clumsy child
careless and lazy in the way you do your work or in your behaviour generally: · As a student, he was brilliant but sloppy.· I will not tolerate sloppy work.
especially written doing dangerous or stupid things without thinking about your own or other people’s safety: · The driver of the car was arrested for reckless driving.· His actions showed a reckless disregard for human life.
careless in a way that might affect other people, especially when you should be taking care of them: · It’s irresponsible for parents to let their children smoke.· his irresponsible attitude to keeping animals
carelessly saying something that upsets or embarrasses someone, without intending to do this: · He kept making tactless remarks about her appearance.· a tactless question· I thought it would be tactless to ask about her divorce.
not being careful enough about something and treating it as though it is not important: · He seems to have a very casual attitude towards his work.· She disliked the casual way in which he made decisions affecting other people’s lives.
careless about something that you are responsible for, so that serious mistakes are made – used especially when someone will be officially punished for this: · The doctor was negligent in using the wrong type of needle.· They found him guilty of negligent conduct.
Longman Language Activatorcareless, so that you or other people are in danger not taking enough care in what you are doing because you do not think about the possible danger or risks: · Some careless idiot forgot to lock the door and the dog got out.· Pryce accused the other driver of being careless and negligent.
especially written someone who is reckless does dangerous or stupid things without thinking that they or someone else might get hurt: · The driver of the car was arrested for reckless driving.· a reckless disregard for human life
someone who is irresponsible does not do the things they should do, or does things they should not do, usually with harmful results: · Police blame higher crime rates on irresponsible parents who allow their teenage children to stay out all night.· Critics accused the governor of being irresponsible, and claimed that his new proposal would put thousands of US troops at risk.
when someone does not do an important job carefully enough, especially with the result that there is an accident and they are punished for causing it: · Dr. Atkins was found guilty of negligence and practising medicine without a license.· You can claim compensation if your injury is a result of your employer's negligence.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY He was accused of causing death by reckless driving. a reckless disregard for safety He ran into the burning house with reckless abandon (=without caring about the danger).COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES They drank and smoked with reckless abandon. Local councillors accused the terrorists of showing a complete disregard for human life.
not caring or worrying about the possible bad or dangerous results of your actions: He was accused of causing death by reckless driving. a reckless disregard for safety He ran into the burning house with reckless abandon (=without caring about the danger). They drank and smoked with reckless abandon. Local councillors accused the terrorists of showing a complete disregard for human life. (=taking risks and not worrying about the results)· Reckless drivers should be given more severe punishments.
(=careless and taking risks)· Baldwin faces charges of reckless driving.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· With reckless abandon, she pressured herself to him, striving to mould herself to his tough maleness.· Now, with reckless abandon, it promises to meddle with local-government structure.· They shoot and blow each other up with reckless abandon.
· They claim he should have faced a Crown Court judge for causing death by reckless driving.· Motorsists seen tail-gating risk prosecution for reckless driving.· Clearly, the difference between reckless driving and careless driving is one of degree.· We are referring here to the offence of causing death by reckless driving, not to manslaughter.· McCausland was also sentenced to six months for reckless driving and for driving without insurance, the sentences to run concurrently.· He admitted two offences of taking a car without consent, reckless driving and driving while disqualified.· The driver was eventually sentenced to six months in prison for reckless driving.· Similarly there is a morally significant difference between reckless driving and manslaughter.
· The same act could be both this form of manslaughter and reckless manslaughter.· Therefore, it can be said that there need not be an obvious and serious risk of death in reckless manslaughter.· After Seymour it is thought that all of these accused would be guilty of reckless manslaughter.
He was accused of causing death by reckless driving. a reckless disregard for safety He ran into the burning house with reckless abandon (=without caring about the danger).► see thesaurus at careless—recklessly adverb—recklessness noun [uncountable]