different between unexacting vs careless

English

Etymology

From un- +? exacting

Adjective

unexacting (comparative more unexacting, superlative most unexacting)

1. (of persons, feelings, states of mind, etc.) Not demanding; uncritical; not difficult to satisfy.
   • 1846, Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son, ch. 35:

     Florence . . . had, all through, repaid the agony of slight and coldness, and dislike, with patient unexacting love, excusing him, and pleading for him, like his better angel!

   • 1864, Anthony Trollope, The Small House at Allington, ch. 9:

     But Mrs Eames was a kind, patient, unexacting woman, who took all civil words as meaning civility.

   • 1919, Kathleen Norris, Sisters: A Story, ch. 1:

     She was rarely angry; she was unexacting, good-humoured, preferring animals to people.
2. Not requiring precision or substantial effort.
   • 1868, "Industrial Prosperity at the South," New York Times, 20 Feb., p. 4 (retrieved 17 Aug. 2010):

     It . . . yields a staple which requires a very simple and unexacting process to prepare it for market.

   • 1964, Russell Kirk, "To the Point," Reading Eagle (USA), 5 Oct., p. 16 (retrieved 17 Aug. 2010):

     His hours were not long, and his work was unexacting and physically light.

Synonyms

• (not demanding): unquestioning
• (not requiring precision): quick-and-dirty, rule-of-thumb, sloppy

English

Etymology

From Middle English careles, from Old English carl?as (“careless, reckless, void of care, free from care, free”), equivalent to care +? -less. Cognate with Icelandic kærulaus (“careless, negligent”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?k??l?s/, /?k??l?s/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?k??l?s/
• Rhymes: -??(?)l?s

Adjective

careless (comparative more careless, superlative most careless)

1. Not concerned or worried (about). [from 11^thc.]

   • "He was here," observed Drina composedly, "and father was angry with him."
     "What?" exclaimed Eileen. "When?"
     "This morning, before father went downtown."
     Both Selwyn and Lansing cut in coolly, dismissing the matter with a careless word or two; and coffee was served—cambric tea in Drina's case.

2. Not giving sufficient attention or thought, especially concerning the avoidance of harm or mistakes. [from 16^thc.]
   • 1991, Stephen Fry, The Liar, p. 49:

     I don't find the pose of careless youth charming and engaging any more than you find the pose of careworn age fascinating and eccentric, I should imagine.

3. (archaic) Free from care; unworried, without anxiety. [from 11^thc.]

   • Good-humored, easy, and careless, he presided over his whale-boat as if the most deadly encounter were but a dinner, and his crew all invited guests.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:careless

Derived terms

• carelessly
• carelessness

Translations

Anagrams

• acreless, raceless, rescales