Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Marked by a lack of responsibility.
- adjective Lacking a sense of responsibility; unreliable or untrustworthy.
- adjective Not liable to be called to account by a higher authority.
- noun One who has no sense of responsibility.
- noun One who is unlikely to be called to account by a higher authority.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Not responsible; not subject to responsibility; not to be held accountable, or called into question: as, an irresponsible government; the irresponsible control of wealth.
- Not capable of or chargeable with responsibility; unable to respond to obligation, as an insolvent debtor; not subject to or incurring legal responsibility, as an infant or idiot for his acts; not of a responsible nature or character.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective Not responsible; not liable or able to answer for consequences; innocent.
- adjective Not to be trusted; unreliable; lacking a proper sense of responsibility.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective Lacking a sense of
responsibility ; incapable of or not chargeable with responsibility; unable to respond toobligation . - adjective Not
responsible ; not subject to responsibility; not to be heldaccountable , or called intoquestion . - noun Someone who is not
responsible .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective showing lack of care for consequences
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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"What shadow of reason," he asks, "is there for doubting that such sales as are necessary and inevitable will be far more sagaciously managed by a Local Board, which the ratepayers elect _for this sole purpose_, than either by magistrates who are irresponsible and do not suffer sensibly from the public vice, or by an _irresponsible_ or _multitudinous_ Committee of Parliament?
Memoir and Letters of Francis W. Newman Giberne Sieveking
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As a result, Republicans in general and Ryan in particular have become increasingly defensive and angry, complaining loudly that the Democrats are engaging in "Mediscare," what they call an irresponsible and demagogic attempt to transform a serious national problem into an opportunity for crass partisan advantage.
Jonathan Weiler: Republicans, Medicare and the Golden Rule Jonathan Weiler 2011
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He is calling for Washington to stop making what he describes as "irresponsible remarks."
China Labels US 'Irresponsible' About Monastery Reaction 2011
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He is calling for Washington to stop making what he describes as "irresponsible remarks."
China Labels US 'Irresponsible' About Monastery Reaction 2011
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As a result, Republicans in general and Ryan in particular have become increasingly defensive and angry, complaining loudly that the Democrats are engaging in "Mediscare," what they call an irresponsible and demagogic attempt to transform a serious national problem into an opportunity for crass partisan advantage.
Jonathan Weiler: Republicans, Medicare and the Golden Rule Jonathan Weiler 2011
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The RSC letter, headed by Rep. Patrick McHenry R-N.C., states that the 72 Republican Members who signed it believe the super committee should under no circumstances approve a deal that includes tax increases, which they call 'irresponsible and dangerous.'
HUFFPOST HILL - Scott Brown Probably Only Saw Half Of 'Margin Call' Eliot Nelson 2011
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Mr. Holder also lashed out at Republican critics for using what he called "irresponsible and inflammatory rhetoric."
Holder Defends Stance in Gun-Running Probe Evan Perez 2011
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As a result, Republicans in general and Ryan in particular have become increasingly defensive and angry, complaining loudly that the Democrats are engaging in "Mediscare," what they call an irresponsible and demagogic attempt to transform a serious national problem into an opportunity for crass partisan advantage.
Jonathan Weiler: Republicans, Medicare and the Golden Rule Jonathan Weiler 2011
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Community this week filed a motion to dismiss what it called an irresponsible lawsuit.
Tenet Rejects Latest Bid From Community Health Dinah Wisenberg Brin 2011
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As a result, Republicans in general and Ryan in particular have become increasingly defensive and angry, complaining loudly that the Democrats are engaging in "Mediscare," what they call an irresponsible and demagogic attempt to transform a serious national problem into an opportunity for crass partisan advantage.
Jonathan Weiler: Republicans, Medicare and the Golden Rule Jonathan Weiler 2011
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