reckless meaning and examples

2025-09-05

Meaning

Reckless means acting without thinking about the possible dangers or consequences. It describes behavior that shows a lack of care for risks, safety, or results.

Grammar and Usage

  • Part of speech: Adjective
  • Used before a noun or after a linking verb (e.g., He is reckless).
  • Often describes actions, decisions, or people who act carelessly.

Typical patterns:

  • reckless driving
  • be reckless with something
  • a reckless decision

Common Phrases

  • reckless driving – driving dangerously without regard for safety.
  • reckless abandon – doing something with total disregard for rules or consequences.
  • reckless behavior – careless or irresponsible actions.

Collocations

  • adjective + noun: reckless behavior, reckless disregard, reckless act, reckless decision
  • verb + reckless: considered reckless, deemed reckless, seemed reckless
  • reckless + preposition: reckless with money, reckless about safety

Examples

  1. His reckless driving nearly caused an accident.
  2. She spent her money with reckless abandon.
  3. The climber’s reckless decision put the whole team in danger.
  4. He has always been reckless about his health, ignoring medical advice.
  5. Investing all your savings in one risky stock is reckless.
  6. The soldiers charged forward with reckless courage.
  7. It would be reckless to ignore these warning signs.
  8. Her reckless disregard for the rules got her into trouble.
  • Careless
  • Irresponsible
  • Rash
  • Thoughtless
  • Foolhardy
  • Impetuous