Standard Lemma guide

heedless

adj · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈhiːdləs/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -iːdləs

1

adj

Meaning 1

Unaware; without noticing; careless; inattentive.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Sing we joyous, all together, heedless of the wind and weather.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: heedful

2

adjective

Meaning 2

marked by or paying little heed or attention--Franklin D. Roosevelt

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals; we know now that it is bad economics
  • heedless of danger
  • heedless of the child's crying

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: unheeding

Antonyms: heedful

3

adjective satellite

Meaning 3

characterized by careless unconcern- Edith Wharton

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the heedless generosity and the spasmodic extravagance of persons used to large fortunes
  • reckless squandering of public funds

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: reckless

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English heed Proto-Indo-European *lewh1- Proto-Indo-European *lewHs-der. Proto-Germanic *leusaną Proto-Germanic *lausaz Proto-Germanic *-lausaz Proto-West Germanic *-laus Old English -lēas Middle English -les English -less English heedless From heed + -less.

Across languages

Translations

58 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bengali: গাফেল (gaphel) — unaware, without noticing
  • Bengali: বেপরোয়া (beporowa) — unaware, without noticing
  • Bulgarian: небрежен (nebrežen) — unaware, without noticing
  • Bulgarian: непредпазлив (nepredpazliv) — unaware, without noticing
  • Danish: ubetænksom — unaware, without noticing
  • Danish: ubesinding — unaware, without noticing
  • Danish: uden hensyn til — unaware, without noticing
  • Dutch: onbewust — unaware, without noticing
  • Dutch: onoplettend — unaware, without noticing
  • Dutch: slordig — unaware, without noticing
  • Finnish: piittaamaton — unaware, without noticing
  • Finnish: piittaamatta — unaware, without noticing
  • Finnish: välittämättä — unaware, without noticing
  • French: insouciant — unaware, without noticing
  • French: inattentif — unaware, without noticing
  • French: négligent — unaware, without noticing
  • Galician: distraído — unaware, without noticing
  • Galician: descoidado — unaware, without noticing
  • Galician: desatento — unaware, without noticing
  • Galician: desconsiderado — unaware, without noticing
  • German: unachtsam — unaware, without noticing
  • German: achtlos — unaware, without noticing
  • German: nicht beachtend — unaware, without noticing
  • German: unaufmerksam — unaware, without noticing
  • German: rücksichtslos — unaware, without noticing
  • German: unbedacht — unaware, without noticing
  • German: leichtsinnig — unaware, without noticing
  • Greek: αδιάφορος (adiáforos) — unaware, without noticing
  • Hiligaynon: buhahâ — unaware, without noticing
  • Hiligaynon: dimainandamon — unaware, without noticing
  • Irish: anaireach — unaware, without noticing
  • Italian: sventato — unaware, without noticing
  • Italian: disavveduto — unaware, without noticing
  • Latin: indīligens — unaware, without noticing
  • Latin: temerārius — unaware, without noticing
  • Latin: inconsīderātus — unaware, without noticing
  • Māori: mākūare — unaware, without noticing
  • Māori: mātotoru — unaware, without noticing
  • Māori: hautāruru — unaware, without noticing
  • Māori: pokanoa — unaware, without noticing
  • Persian: بیپروا (bi-parvâ) — unaware, without noticing
  • Romanian: nepăsător — unaware, without noticing
  • Scottish Gaelic: eas-umhail — unaware, without noticing
  • Spanish: negligente — unaware, without noticing
  • Spanish: inconsiderado — unaware, without noticing
  • Spanish: indiligente — unaware, without noticing
  • Spanish: desatento — unaware, without noticing
  • Spanish: distraído — unaware, without noticing
  • Spanish: despistado — unaware, without noticing
  • Swedish: oaktsam — unaware, without noticing
  • Turkish: aldırışsız — unaware, without noticing
  • Turkish: aldırmayan — unaware, without noticing
  • Turkish: dikkatsiz — unaware, without noticing
  • Turkish: ehemmiyet etmeyen — unaware, without noticing
  • Turkish: gaflet içinde — unaware, without noticing
  • Turkish: önemsemeyen — unaware, without noticing
  • Welsh: dihidio — unaware, without noticing
  • Welsh: di-hid — unaware, without noticing