thoughtlessly
/ˈthȯt-ləs How to pronounce thoughtless (audio)/ (ame, mw) · /ˈθɔːtləsli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈθɔːtləsli/ (ame, ipa)
thoughtlessly — adjective
- thoughtlesslypositive
- more thoughtlesslycomparative
- most thoughtlesslysuperlative
1. behaving or speaking in a way that shows you do not care about the feelings, nee
behaving or speaking in a way that shows you do not care about the feelings, needs, or wishes of other people — for example, playing loud music late at night when neighbours are trying to sleep.
It was thoughtless of Wei to leave the kitchen a mess after his flatmates had cleaned all day.
it + be + thoughtless + of + person + to-infinitive
Amara regretted her thoughtless remark about her colleague's new haircut the moment she saw his upset face.
thoughtless + remark / comment + about [topic]
A thoughtless guest who never says thank you will soon stop receiving dinner invitations.
The company's thoughtless decision to cut salaries just before the holidays angered the entire workforce.
- inconsiderate
slightly more formal and places the focus on a lack of consideration for others
- unthinking
milder in tone; suggests absent-mindedness rather than intentional disregard
- thoughtful
actively considering others' feelings before acting
- considerate
showing awareness and respect for others' needs
文法句型
it + be + thoughtless + of + person + to-infinitive
用法筆記
The adjective thoughtless in this sense describes actions or people that ignore the impact on others. It implies a complete absence of concern rather than a simple lack of consideration. The grammar pattern "it was thoughtless of [person] to [verb]" is very common for expressing criticism of a specific action.
常見錯誤
2. not paying enough attention to what you are doing, so that you make mistakes or
not paying enough attention to what you are doing, so that you make mistakes or cause problems without intending to.
Jack made a thoughtless error when he sent the email to the wrong client, which caused a week of confusion.
thoughtless + error / mistake
It was thoughtless of Yuna to leave her passport on the airport bench while she tied her shoelaces.
it + be + thoughtless + of + person + to-infinitive (careless)
A thoughtless driver who texts at red lights puts every pedestrian on the road at risk.
Sophie's thoughtless handling of the laboratory equipment led to a broken beaker and a small chemical spill.
- careless
more common in everyday speech; focuses on lack of attention
- inattentive
more formal; describes a lack of focus rather than haste
文法句型
it + be + thoughtless + of + person + to-infinitive
用法筆記
This sense focuses on a lack of attention rather than a lack of concern for others. A person can be thoughtless in this way without meaning any harm. Frequently used with nouns like 'error', 'mistake', and 'oversight'.
3. acting or speaking much too quickly without stopping to consider the possible da
acting or speaking much too quickly without stopping to consider the possible dangers or negative results — like quitting a job in anger without having another one lined up.
In a moment of thoughtless anger, Oliver quit his job without any savings to fall back on.
in a moment of thoughtless + [emotion]
The teenager's thoughtless dare to jump from the bridge could have ended in serious injury.
Buying a house without having it inspected first was a thoughtless decision that cost the Chen family their life savings.
It was thoughtless of the teenagers to go hiking in a thunderstorm without proper gear or a map.
用法筆記
This sense emphasises reckless urgency rather than lack of care (Sense 1) or lack of attention (Sense 2). It often describes single, impulsive acts rather than a person's general character. Common in phrases like 'a thoughtless dare' or 'a thoughtless gamble'.
4. existing or happening in a state where no active thinking or awareness is presen
existing or happening in a state where no active thinking or awareness is present — like staring at a wall without registering anything.
After receiving the bad news, she sat in a thoughtless daze, unable to respond to the nurses' questions.
Hours of thoughtless scrolling on social media left Kwame feeling empty and disconnected from real life.
thoughtless scrolling / browsing / staring
Rafael's eyes had a thoughtless, blank look that worried everyone who came to visit him in the hospital.
The old man sat in a thoughtless silence, watching the rain run down the window without seeming to see it.
用法筆記
This is the most literal sense and the rarest in everyday conversation. It is mainly used in medical, philosophical, or literary contexts. In ordinary speech, Sense 1 (INCONSIDERATE) or Sense 2 (CARELESS) is far more likely to appear.
thoughtlessly — adverb
1. Acting or speaking without pausing to consider the harm your words could cause o
Acting or speaking without pausing to consider the harm your words could cause or the problems you might create — for example, blurting out a secret without first checking who else is in the room.
Arjun thoughtlessly mentioned the surprise party in front of the birthday girl and ruined the surprise.
thoughtlessly + verb of speaking (mentioned/blurted/said)
The developer thoughtlessly deleted the entire database without making a backup, losing three months of customer records.
Kavita thoughtlessly threw the receipt away, only to realise later that she needed it for a warranty claim.
Politicians who thoughtlessly promise tax cuts without explaining how public services will be funded damage public trust over time.
Diego thoughtlessly spent his entire monthly salary on a single weekend trip and had nothing left for rent.
- carelessly
focuses on lack of attention rather than disregard for others
- inconsiderately
more directly about causing trouble for other people
- recklessly
stronger; implies awareness of danger but acting anyway
- thoughtfully
with care and consideration for others and consequences
- carefully
with attention to avoid mistakes
文法句型
thoughtlessly + [verb of speaking/acting/deciding]
用法筆記
The adverb form is the most common part of speech for this word. It typically modifies verbs of speaking, acting, or deciding — especially when the speaker or actor later regrets the lack of thought. Can describe either carelessness (not paying attention) or inconsiderateness (not caring about others).