## Meanings
1. Not giving enough attention or thought, so you make mistakes or cause harm.
2. Done without due thought or consideration.
3. Relaxed and natural, with no sign of effort.

## Examples
- A careless mistake cost him the game.
- He hurt her with a few careless words.
- She had an air of careless elegance.

## Synonyms
- cursory
- derelict
- heedless
- irregardless
- irrespective
- lash
- lax
- neglectful
- negligent
- reckless
- regardless
- remiss

## Antonyms
- meticulous

## Derived Forms
- carelessly
- carelessness
- overcareless

## Related Forms
- guilty

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *ǵeh₂r-
- Root: careles
- Root: carlēas
- Affix: -less - without

## Etymology
From Middle English careles, from Old English carlēas (“careless, reckless, void of care, free from care, free”), equivalent to care + -less. Cognate with Icelandic kærulaus (“careless, negligent”).

## AI Etymology
careless is an adjective. It is from Middle English careles, from Old English carlēas (“careless, reckless, void of care, free from care, free”), equivalent to care + -less. Cognate with Icelandic kærulaus (“careless, negligent”). Historical forms in the chain include *ǵeh₂r- (Proto-Indo-European), careles (Middle English), and carlēas (Old English). Current senses include not giving enough attention or thought, so you make mistakes or cause harm, done without due thought or consideration, and relaxed and natural, with no sign of effort. Derived forms include carelessly, carelessness, and overcareless. Related words include guilty.

## Topics
- Mind & Cognition
- Cause, Change & Process

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careless

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