thoughtlessly
thoughtlessly — adverb
1. saying or doing something without thinking first about whether it will hurt or b
saying or doing something without thinking first about whether it will hurt or bother other people
Beatriz thoughtlessly mentioned the broken engagement at dinner, making the whole table go quiet.
adverb modifying speech verb: mentioned thoughtlessly
Caleb thoughtlessly parked his car in front of the fire station, blocking the emergency exit.
adverb describing inconsiderate action
Adina thoughtlessly forwarded the private email to everyone in the office.
Reema thoughtlessly threw away her roommate's leftover dinner along with the empty boxes.
Ayana thoughtlessly interrupted the speaker to share her own story without waiting for a pause.
- inconsiderately
more specific about causing upset to others; same register
- unthinkingly
similar but emphasizes lack of thought rather than lack of care
- rashly
adds a sense of haste and danger that thoughtlessly does not always carry
- thoughtfully
the direct opposite: acting with consideration for others
- considerately
more formal, emphasizing active regard for others' feelings
用法筆記
This adverb typically describes spoken remarks or physical actions that cause inconvenience or hurt to others, rather than mere absentmindedness.
常見錯誤
thoughtlessly — adjective
- thoughtlesslypositive
- more thoughtlesslycomparative
- most thoughtlesslysuperlative
1. showing that you do not care about other people's needs or feelings, often causi
showing that you do not care about other people's needs or feelings, often causing them inconvenience or unhappiness
It was thoughtless of Kabir to eat the last piece of cake without checking if anyone else wanted it.
it + be + thoughtless + of + person + to-infinitive
Hassan's thoughtless remark about Emre's cooking made the dinner party awkward.
thoughtless + remark / comment / action
Sumin's thoughtless decision to play loud music at 3 a.m. woke the entire building.
It was thoughtless of Lakan to leave the party without saying goodbye to the host.
- inconsiderate
nearly identical; slightly more formal
- selfish
stronger negative connotation; implies deliberate self-interest rather than mere lack of thought
- rude
focuses on the breach of social rules rather than the lack of consideration
- considerate
the direct opposite in both meaning and register
- thoughtful
implies active care for others' needs
文法句型
be + thoughtless + of + someone
it is thoughtless + to-infinitive
2. not giving enough attention to what you are doing, so that you make mistakes or
not giving enough attention to what you are doing, so that you make mistakes or miss important details
A thoughtless mistake in the budget cost the company nearly ten thousand dollars.
thoughtless + mistake / error
Lakan made a thoughtless mistake by sending the invoice to the old address without checking it first.
thoughtless + mistake / error — careless oversight pattern
Beatriz made a thoughtless error by typing the wrong date on the wedding invitations.
Kenji made a thoughtless mistake by leaving the lab fridge open overnight, ruining a month's worth of experiments.
- careful
the direct opposite: giving full attention
- meticulous
stronger; paying attention to every small detail
3. acting too quickly without thinking about the possible dangers or the bad result
acting too quickly without thinking about the possible dangers or the bad results that might follow
The thoughtless driver sped through the busy intersection without looking at the traffic light.
thoughtless + driver / action implying danger
It was thoughtless of Jack to put all his savings into one risky company without a backup plan.
it + be + thoughtless + of + person + to-infinitive for risky action
Caleb's thoughtless decision to climb the cliff without any safety gear terrified his hiking group.
It was thoughtless of Ayana to swim far from shore with nobody else nearby.
4. completely lacking the capacity to think, feel, or be aware — used of objects, m
completely lacking the capacity to think, feel, or be aware — used of objects, materials, or natural forces that exist without a conscious mind
A thoughtless stone has no mind — it cannot feel the sun or the rain.
thoughtless + inanimate object (insensate / devoid of thought)
The statue's thoughtless eyes stared at the sky without seeing or feeling anything.
thoughtless + object (insensate / devoid of thought)
After the fire, the house was nothing but thoughtless ash and twisted metal.
A thoughtless block of granite sat in the quarry, waiting for the sculptor's chisel.
用法筆記
This sense is rare and mostly used in formal, literary, or philosophical writing. In everyday English, 'insensate' or 'mindless' is more common for this meaning.