WordGarden.ioinconsiderate
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɪnkənsˈɪdərət/
US
Meanings
Adjective
not caring enough about other people's needs or feelings
Beyond the definition
Imagine your friend borrows your favorite sweater without asking and then spills coffee all over it. That's inconsiderate—they didn't think about how their actions would affect you! Being inconsiderate means not paying attention to the feelings or needs of others, often resulting in unintended rudeness. It's like walking through a crowded room without noticing (or caring) if you bump into people. Sometimes it's a simple oversight; other times, it's a recurring pattern of behavior. A considerate person thinks before they act, while an inconsiderate one doesn't.
To be inconsiderate is to show a lack of thought or concern for the feelings, needs, or well-being of others. It goes beyond simply being "mean"—it implies a failure to recognize how your actions might impact someone else's day or state of mind. It's not always driven by intentional malice; often, people are simply wrapped up in their own world and don't pause to consider the consequences of their behavior.
You might describe someone as inconsiderate if they talk loudly on the phone during a quiet movie, keep interrupting others, or make plans that affect a group without asking anyone else first. Context often matters: accidentally forgetting a friend's birthday might be a mistake, but repeatedly dismissing their feelings or ignoring their boundaries is clearly inconsiderate.
While "thoughtless" and "rude" are close synonyms, inconsiderate especially points to not noticing or not caring how your actions affect other people. A considerate person tries to understand another person's point of view, while an inconsiderate person doesn't give it much thought.
For example: "It was inconsiderate of him to leave all the dirty dishes piled up for his roommates to clean," or "She found his habit of arriving thirty minutes late to every meeting deeply inconsiderate."
Examples
- 1
Late-night noise
Playing loud music after midnight is really inconsiderate.
- 2
Last-minute cancellation
It was inconsiderate of him to cancel at the last minute.
- Patterninconsiderate of + person + to do X
used to judge that person's action
- 3
Time respect
She can be inconsiderate of other people's time.
- Patterninconsiderate of + someone's time/needs
not giving enough thought to them
- 4
Hurtful joke
His joke about her accent seemed especially inconsiderate.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Public planning
The new schedule was criticized as inconsiderate toward parents who rely on buses.
- Patterninconsiderate toward + person/group
not thinking enough about how something affects them
- 6
Digital messages
Please don't post inconsiderate comments when someone is sharing bad news.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- inconsiderate behavior
- inconsiderate of others
- inconsiderate to do something
Word family
- inconsiderately
- inconsiderateness
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Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- inconsiderateadjective