IMPRUDENT

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does imprudent mean? 

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

1. not prudent or wise

2. lacking wise self-restraint

  Familiarity information: IMPRUDENT used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• IMPRUDENT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Not prudent or wise

Context example:

would be imprudent for a noneconomist to talk about the details of economic policy

Similar:

ill-considered; ill-judged; improvident; shortsighted (not given careful consideration)

injudicious (lacking or showing lack of judgment or discretion; unwise)

rash (imprudently incurring risk)

Also:

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

improvident (not provident; not providing for the future)

foolish (devoid of good sense or judgment)

Antonym:

prudent (careful and sensible; marked by sound judgment)

Derivation:

imprudence (a lack of caution in practical affairs)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Lacking wise self-restraint

Context example:

an imprudent remark

Similar:

indiscreet (lacking discretion; injudicious)

Derivation:

imprudence (a lack of caution in practical affairs)

 Context examples 

My father and mother knew nothing of that; they only felt how imprudent a match it must be.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Imprudent, if you please—but not mad.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

And really, added Edmund, the day is so mild, that your sitting down for a few minutes can be hardly thought imprudent.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Oh what a worthy man he is, Mister Copperfield, but how imprudent he has been!

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

And when she has forgiven you, perhaps a little humility may be convenient while acknowledging a second engagement, almost as imprudent in HER eyes as the first.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

This fiend has several imprudent letters—imprudent, Watson, nothing worse—which were written to an impecunious young squire in the country.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

When any two young people take it into their heads to marry, they are pretty sure by perseverance to carry their point, be they ever so poor, or ever so imprudent, or ever so little likely to be necessary to each other's ultimate comfort.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

But I confess, as soon as I read his letter, I thought it a very foolish, imprudent business, and not likely to promote the good of either; for what were you to live upon, supposing you came together?

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

I am afraid he has been very imprudent, and has deserved to lose Mr. Darcy's regard.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Elton is a very good sort of man, and a very respectable vicar of Highbury, but not at all likely to make an imprudent match.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)