THOUGHTLESS

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does thoughtless mean? 

• THOUGHTLESS (adjective)
  The adjective THOUGHTLESS has 2 senses:

1. showing lack of careful thought

2. without care or thought for others

  Familiarity information: THOUGHTLESS used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• THOUGHTLESS (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Showing lack of careful thought

Context example:

the debate turned into thoughtless bickering

Similar:

inconsiderate; unconsidered (without proper consideration or reflection)

unreflective; unthinking; unthoughtful (not exhibiting or characterized by careful thought)

Also:

inconsiderate (lacking regard for the rights or feelings of others)

Attribute:

thoughtfulness (the trait of thinking carefully before acting)

Antonym:

thoughtful (exhibiting or characterized by careful thought)

Derivation:

thoughtlessness (the trait of not thinking carefully before acting)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Without care or thought for others

Synonyms:

thoughtless; uncaring; unthinking

Context example:

the thoughtless saying of a great princess on being informed that the people had no bread; 'Let them eat cake'

Similar:

inconsiderate (lacking regard for the rights or feelings of others)

Derivation:

thoughtlessness (the quality of failing to be considerate of others)

 Context examples 

Perhaps it was thoughtless of me to say so.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

My dear Fanny, cried Edmund, immediately drawing her arm within his, how thoughtless I have been!

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

That young man (speaking lower) is very thoughtless.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Were ye all as thoughtless of your own souls as the soldier is of his body, ye would be of more avail to the souls of others.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

They were all thoughtless or indolent.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

“Oh! thoughtless, thoughtless Lydia!” cried Elizabeth when she had finished it.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Haven't you heard her say, over and over again, that she thinks I am too thoughtless and too—a—a— “Pretty,” suggested Peggotty.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Moreover, she is a sweet girl—rather thoughtless; but you would have sufficient thought for both yourself and her.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Well, sir, I wore it at the duel, like the thoughtless fool that I was.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A thoughtless whim seized Thornton, and he drew the attention of Hans and Pete to the experiment he had in mind.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)