ˈreklə̇s adjective
Etymology: Middle English recheles, reckeles, from Old English reccelēas, rēcelēas, from (assumed) recce, rēce care, heed (akin to reccan, rēcan to give heed) + -lēas -less — more at reck
1.
a. : lacking in caution : deliberately courting danger : foolhardy , rash
brave and daring but never foolishly reckless — J.L.Hodson
a band of brigands, outlawed by government, strong in discipline, furious from penury, reckless by habit — J.L.Motley
b. : careless , neglectful , thoughtless — often used with of
lives on his nervous energy, reckless of consequences — Rose Macaulay
2.
a. : marked by a lack of caution : heedless , rash
gold in the men's purses meant heavy drinking and reckless gambling — Robert Graves
reckless audacity came to be considered courage — Derek Patmore
b. : marked by a lack of foresight or consideration : improvident , negligent
devastated by forest fires and reckless lumbering — American Guide Series: Pennsylvania
replace the reckless mining habits of the earlier period with a thrifty and conservative use of the natural environment — Lewis Mumford
c. : irresponsible , wild
reckless in its charges
a check on reckless generalizations and the vagaries of impressionism — C.I.Glicksberg
Synonyms: see adventurous