HEEDLESS

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does heedless mean? 

• HEEDLESS (adjective)
  The adjective HEEDLESS has 2 senses:

1. marked by or paying little heed or attention

2. characterized by careless unconcern

  Familiarity information: HEEDLESS used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HEEDLESS (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Marked by or paying little heed or attention

Synonyms:

heedless; unheeding

Context example:

heedless of the child's crying

Similar:

careless; regardless ((usually followed by 'of') without due thought or consideration)

deaf; indifferent ((usually followed by 'to') unwilling or refusing to pay heed)

Attribute:

attentiveness; heed; paying attention; regard (paying particular notice (as to children or helpless people))

Antonym:

heedful (taking heed; giving close and thoughtful attention)

Derivation:

heedlessness (the trait of acting rashly and without prudence)

heedlessness (a lack of attentiveness (as to children or helpless people))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Characterized by careless unconcern

Synonyms:

heedless; reckless

Context example:

reckless squandering of public funds

Similar:

careless (marked by lack of attention or consideration or forethought or thoroughness; not careful)

Derivation:

heedlessness (the trait of acting rashly and without prudence)

 Context examples 

Cherish her, then, whilst you may, for the day will come when every hasty deed or heedless word will come back with its sting to hive in your own heart.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Nay, gentles, gentles!” cried Dame Eliza, in a singsong heedless voice, which showed that such bickerings were nightly things among her guests.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

They walked off, utterly heedless of Mr. Rushworth's repeated question of, Shall I go too?

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

If you had been more mindful of yourself, and less of me, when we grew up here together, I think my heedless fancy never would have wandered from you.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

“Catherine would make a sad, heedless young housekeeper to be sure,” was her mother's foreboding remark; but quick was the consolation of there being nothing like practice.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Little Toto, now that he had an enemy to face, ran barking toward the Lion, and the great beast had opened his mouth to bite the dog, when Dorothy, fearing Toto would be killed, and heedless of danger, rushed forward and slapped the Lion upon his nose as hard as she could, while she cried out: Don't you dare to bite Toto!

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

It had always been evident to her that such an income as theirs, under the direction of two persons so extravagant in their wants, and heedless of the future, must be very insufficient to their support; and whenever they changed their quarters, either Jane or herself were sure of being applied to for some little assistance towards discharging their bills.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

The first heedless scheme had been to go in the morning and return at night; but to this Mr Musgrove, for the sake of his horses, would not consent; and when it came to be rationally considered, a day in the middle of November would not leave much time for seeing a new place, after deducting seven hours, as the nature of the country required, for going and returning.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

“Stand off my land!” the man said fiercely, heedless of the blood which trickled freely from his fingers.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

My mother wept bitterly when he was gone, but for my own part I was not sorry to see his blue back and white shorts going down the garden walk, for I felt, with the heedless selfishness of a child, that we were closer together, she and I, when we were alone.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)