careless
Lacking due attention
Careless means lacking attention or concern.
A careless driver fails to notice hazards.
A careless remark is made without thinking of consequences.
Careless can also suggest ease and freedom from worry: a careless summer afternoon.
The word implies negligence when stakes are high but relaxed indifference when they're not.
Failing to care properly
- irresponsibleLacking sense of duty
- remissNeglectful of duty
- derelictAbandoned or neglectful
- slipshodCareless and hasty
sloppy · lax · slack · thoughtless · incautious · imprudent · disregardful · perfunctory
Heedless or skin irritation
- impulsiveActing without deliberation
- heedlessCareless of consequences
- foolhardyRecklessly bold
- irresponsibleLacking sense of duty
brash · impetuous · unthinking · daredevil · wild · harum-scarum · hotheaded · madcap
Unable to concentrate
- absentmindedInattentive to immediate surroundings
- unfocusedWithout clear direction
- scatterbrainedLacking mental focus
- forgetfulFailing to retain information
heedless · oblivious · unmindful · preoccupied · neglectful · unobservant · daydreaming · spacey
Cheerful and without worry
- blitheCheerfully indifferent
- insouciantCarefree and unconcerned
- happy-go-luckyCheerfully indifferent to troubles
- easygoingRelaxed in temperament
jaunty · buoyant · nonchalant · unconcerned · airy · breezy · untroubled · unworried
Mishandling through incompetence
- fumblingClumsy, uncoordinated handling
- blunderingActing with clumsy incompetence
- botchedPoorly executed, spoiled
- ham-fistedLacking dexterity or subtlety
butterfingers · maladroit · awkward · ungainly · accident-prone · oafish · inept · bumbling
neglectful
Failing to care properly
- irresponsibleLacking sense of duty
- remissNeglectful of duty
- derelictAbandoned or neglectful
slipshod · sloppy · lax · slack · thoughtless · incautious · imprudent · disregardful · perfunctory · cavalier
rash
Heedless or skin irritation
irresponsible · brash · impetuous · unthinking · daredevil · wild · harum-scarum · hotheaded · madcap · audacious
distracted
Unable to concentrate
- absentmindedInattentive to immediate surroundings
- unfocusedWithout clear direction
- scatterbrainedLacking mental focus
forgetful · heedless · oblivious · unmindful · preoccupied · neglectful · unobservant · daydreaming · spacey · zoned-out
lighthearted
Cheerful and without worry
- blitheCheerfully indifferent
- insouciantCarefree and unconcerned
- happy-go-luckyCheerfully indifferent to troubles
easygoing · jaunty · buoyant · nonchalant · unconcerned · airy · breezy · untroubled · unworried · free-spirited
bungling
Mishandling through incompetence
- fumblingClumsy, uncoordinated handling
- blunderingActing with clumsy incompetence
- botchedPoorly executed, spoiled
ham-fisted · butterfingers · maladroit · awkward · ungainly · accident-prone · oafish · inept · bumbling
- negligence expressionsdrop the ball, asleep at the wheel, let slide, slack off, caught napping
- slapdashsloppy, hasty, rushed, haphazard, shoddy
- work traitshardworking, diligent, productive, efficient, lazy
- negative adjectivesawful, bad, cruel, dumb, evil
- recklessreckless, rash, heedless, imprudent, reckless abandon
- shortcomingsdeficient, inadequate, lacking, inferior, subpar
carelesscareful
Exercising caution and attention
meticulous · attentive · thorough · diligent · painstaking
carelessconsiderate
Mindful of others' needs
thoughtful · mindful · caring · attentive · solicitous
- careless mistakeError from inattention
- careless errorFault from inattention
- careless drivingNegligent vehicle operation
- careless talkUnthinking, risky speech
- Careless WhisperUnthinking quiet utterance
- careless workTask done without care