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Definition of carelessness

carelessness

/ˈkɛr.ləs.nəs/
care · less · ness
Adverb:carelessly
•
Adjective:careless
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carelessness Lexical Profile

carelessness Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The failure to give sufficient attention to avoiding harm, mistakes, or errors; lack of care, caution, or thoroughness.

Example

"The laboratory accident was caused by sheer carelessness rather than faulty equipment."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for carelessness
Antonyms
View all antonyms for carelessness

• Rhymes for carelessness

• Nearby Words

caregiving
careless
carelessly
carelessness
careline
carer
caress

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Old English as 'carleasnes', combining the adjective 'careless' (from Old English 'cearig'/'caru' meaning 'grief, sorrow, or close attention' and '-leas' meaning 'without') with the noun-forming suffix '-ness'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Carelessness. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/carelessness
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