Standard Lemma guide

thoughtlessly

adv · 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • thôt’lĭs-lǐ
  • /ˈθɔt.lɪs.li/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adv

Meaning 1

Done without thinking.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • He thoughtlessly invited her to come jogging, as he knew she hated exercise.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adverb

Meaning 2

showing thoughtlessness

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he treated his parents thoughtlessly

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: thoughtfully

3

adverb

Meaning 3

in a thoughtless manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he stared thoughtlessly at the picture

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: unthinkingly, unthinking

Antonyms: thoughtfully

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *teng-der. Proto-Germanic *þankijaną Proto-Germanic *þanhtaz Proto-West Germanic *þą̄ht Old English þōht Middle English thought English thought 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 thoughtless Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English thoughtlessly From thoughtless + -ly.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: ajattelemattomasti — done without thinking
  • German: gedankenlos — done without thinking
  • Polish: bezmyślnie — done without thinking
  • Polish: lekkomyślnie — done without thinking
  • Spanish: desconsideradamente — done without thinking
  • Spanish: a las bravas — done without thinking
  • Swedish: tanklöst — done without thinking