incautious

adjective

in·​cau·​tious (ˌ)in-ˈkȯ-shəs 

: lacking in caution : careless

an incautious remark

incautiously adverb

incautiousness noun

Synonyms

• careless
• heedless
• mindless
• unguarded
• unsafe
• unwary

Examples of incautious in a Sentence

He offended several people with his incautious remarks.

Their incautious behavior is going to get them into trouble someday.

Recent Examples on the Web

The pace of activity quickens in the final few days and the last hours can be especially perilous to the public interest as legislators make incautious deals to get their own languishing proposals passed. —Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 4 May 2024

Nationalists call on the state to punish disloyal actors, such as Western brands, Chinese feminists, and incautious celebrities. —Chang Che, The New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2024

Yet that may send the message that both borrowers and lenders can continue pursuing incautious practices in the expectation of a bailout. —Keith Bradsher, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2023

And of course, panic made people incautious. —Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1703, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

incautious

adjective

in·​cau·​tious (ˈ)in-ˈkȯ-shəs 

: not cautious : rash

incautiously adverb

incautiousness noun