Carefulness — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈker-fəl/ care·ful

Meaning & Definition of Carefulness

Carefulness (adjective)

  1. marked by wary caution or prudence
  2. marked by attentive concern and solicitude
  3. marked by painstaking effort to avoid errors or omissions —often used with of or an infinitive

Carefulness (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a close attentiveness to avoiding danger

    "her natural carefulness keeps her from having car accidents and the high insurance premiums that go with them"

    similar: alertness, care, caution, cautiousness, chariness, circumspection, gingerliness, guardedness, heedfulness, prudence, wariness
    related: attentiveness, observance, vigilance, watchfulness, foresight, foresightedness, providence, calculation, canniness, deliberateness, deliberation, shrewdness
    opposite: brashness, carelessness, heedlessness, incaution, incautiousness, recklessness, unwariness
    near: abruptness, hastiness, impetuousness, precipitousness, rashness, suddenness, inconsiderateness, inconsideration, thoughtlessness

  2. strict attentiveness to what one is doing

    "a degree of carefulness is required to get the details just right"

    similar: care, closeness, conscientiousness, heed, heedfulness, meticulosity, meticulousness, pains, scrupulousness
    related: advertence, advertency, attention, concentration, focus, observance, observation, alertness, mindfulness, vigilance, watchfulness, dutifulness, irreproachability, irreproachableness, punctiliousness, responsibility, bother, effort, painstaking, trouble, exactness, particularity, precision
    opposite: heedlessness, inattentiveness, negligence
    near: inadvertence, inadvertency, inattention, inobservance

  3. attention accompanied by protectiveness and responsibility

    "with what carefulness they tended the frail princess day and night!"

    similar: care, lovingness, solicitousness, solicitude
    related: concern, considerateness, consideration, kindness, thoughtfulness, babying, coddling, pampering
    opposite: carelessness
    near: inconsiderateness, inconsideration, thoughtlessness, unconcern, unkindness

Related Entry: Careful (adjective)

Careful is a different word from Carefulness. The synonyms below are for careful, not for carefulness.

  1. having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble

    "careful drivers slow down on slick or icy roadways"

    similar: alert, cautious, chary, circumspect, conservative, considerate, gingerly, guarded, heedful, safe, wary
    related: advertent, attentive, awake, observant, regardful, vigilant, watchful, hypercautious, foresighted, foresightful, forethoughtful, provident, thoughtful, cagey, calculating, canny, shrewd, deliberate, slow, ultracareful, ultracautious
    opposite: careless, heedless, incautious, unguarded, unmindful, unsafe, unwary
    near: bold, brash, impetuous, rash, reckless, venturesome, asleep, inattentive, regardless, inconsiderate, thoughtless, lax, neglectful, negligent, remiss, imprudent, indiscreet, injudicious, absentminded, forgetful, inadvertent, unintentional, unplanned

  2. taking, showing, or involving great care and effort

    "that furniture maker was known to be a most careful worker, so his output was small"

    similar: conscientious, fussy, loving, meticulous, painstaking, scrupulous
    related: assiduous, diligent, indefatigable, persevering, sedulous, exhaustive, thorough, thoroughgoing, alert, attentive, observant, vigilant, watchful, accurate, exact, precise, strict, critical, demanding, discriminating, exacting, fastidious, finicky, particular, cautious, chary, circumspect, gingerly, guarded, heedful, mindful, wary, deliberate, plodding, slow, studied, thoughtful, all-out, determined, dogged, intensive, patient, tenacious, tireless, zealous
    opposite: careless
    near: cursory, halfhearted, heedless, inattentive, incautious, mindless, regardless, unguarded, unsafe, unwary, lax, neglectful, negligent, slipshod, sloppy, slovenly, imprecise, inaccurate, uncritical, undemanding, undiscriminating, bold, impetuous, rash, reckless, apathetic, indifferent, lackadaisical, lazy, lazyish

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Carefulness

The most common words with a similar meaning to Carefulness:

alertness, care, caution, cautiousness, chariness, circumspection, gingerliness, guardedness, heedfulness, prudence, wariness, closeness, conscientiousness, heed, meticulosity, meticulousness, pains, scrupulousness, lovingness, solicitousness, solicitude

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Carefulness

Words with the opposite meaning of Carefulness:

brashness, carelessness, heedlessness, incaution, incautiousness, recklessness, unwariness, inattentiveness, negligence

Related Words for Carefulness

attentiveness, observance, vigilance, watchfulness, foresight, foresightedness, providence, calculation, canniness, deliberateness, deliberation, shrewdness, advertence, advertency, attention, concentration, focus, observation, mindfulness, dutifulness, irreproachability, irreproachableness, punctiliousness, responsibility, bother, effort, painstaking, trouble, exactness, particularity

Near Antonyms of Carefulness

abruptness, hastiness, impetuousness, precipitousness, rashness, suddenness, inconsiderateness, inconsideration, thoughtlessness, inadvertence, inadvertency, inattention, inobservance, unconcern, unkindness

Word Forms of Carefulness

Inflections: carefuller, carefullest

Derived words: carefully (adverb), carefulness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Carefulness

First known use: before 12th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Carefulness

What does "Carefulness" mean?

"Carefulness" means marked by wary caution or prudence. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: marked by wary caution or prudence. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Carefulness"?

Other words for "Carefulness" include alertness, care, caution, cautiousness, chariness, circumspection, gingerliness and guardedness. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Carefulness" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Carefulness"?

There are 60 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Carefulness". Common alternatives include alertness, care, caution, cautiousness, chariness, circumspection, gingerliness, guardedness, heedfulness and prudence.

What is the opposite of "Carefulness"?

Antonyms of "Carefulness" include brashness, carelessness, heedlessness, incaution, incautiousness, recklessness, unwariness and inattentiveness. Near antonyms include abruptness, hastiness, impetuousness and precipitousness.

How do you use "Carefulness" in a sentence?

Examples of "Carefulness" in a sentence: "her natural carefulness keeps her from having car accidents and the high insurance premiums that go with them"; "a degree of carefulness is required to get the details just right"; "with what carefulness they tended the frail princess day and night!".

Is "Carefulness" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Carefulness" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Carefulness"?

"Carefulness" is pronounced /ˈker-fəl/ and divided into syllables as care·ful.

What is the origin of the word "Carefulness"?

First known use: before 12th century.