imprudent

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/ɪmˈpruːdənt/
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A lack of prudence or discretion, describing actions or attitudes that are unwise or indiscreet.

Examples

  • Their imprudent investment led to losses.
  • The manager's imprudent hiring decision caused trouble.
  • The journalist's imprudent question revealed confidential details.
  • The imprudent gossip spread quickly through the office.
  • Sharing the address was imprudent.

Similar words

hasty
rash
ill-mannered
inappropriate
improper
ill-advised
careless
unseemly
indiscreet
offensive

Meanings

Lacking prudence or good judgment

adjective
everyday
neutral
Describing actions, decisions, or attitudes that are unwise and fail to consider likely consequences.

Usage

Use imprudent to describe actions or decisions that are unwise and ignore likely outcomes.

Examples

  • It was imprudent to ignore the weather warning.
  • Their imprudent investment led to losses.
  • Choosing to skip the safety check was imprudent.
  • It would be imprudent to trust that rumor.
  • The manager's imprudent hiring decision caused trouble.
  • Driving at high speed in fog is imprudent.

Common mistakes

The adjective is often misplaced after the noun or used with the wrong noun.
IncorrectCorrect
He made a decision imprudent. He made an imprudent decision.
She was an imprudent. She was imprudent.
The imprudent of his plan surprised everyone. The imprudence of his plan surprised everyone.

Similar words

Indiscreet or lacking discretion

adjective
social
neutral
Referring to behavior or speech that reveals private information or is inappropriate for the situation.

Usage

Use imprudent for behavior or speech that reveals private details or is unsuitable for the situation.

Examples

  • Her imprudent remark about the surprise ruined the party.
  • The journalist's imprudent question revealed confidential details.
  • He made an imprudent comment during the interview.
  • Sharing the address was imprudent.
  • The imprudent gossip spread quickly through the office.
  • It was imprudent to discuss the private matter in public.

Common mistakes

The adjective is sometimes used for the wrong type of disclosure or confused with similar words.
IncorrectCorrect
He gave an imprudent answer about the secret. He gave an indiscreet answer about the secret.
Her imprudent comment exposed the surprise. Her indiscreet comment exposed the surprise.
The imprudent remarks were too personal. The indiscreet remarks were too personal.

Similar words

Usage

Use imprudent before a noun to indicate unwise or indiscreet actions; select the sense that matches whether the focus is on poor judgment or on revealing private information.

Common mistakes

Placing imprudent after the noun instead of before it, e.g., decision imprudent.

Etymology

From late Middle English imprudent, from Latin imprudent- ‘not foreseeing’, formed with the negative prefix in- ‘not’ + prudent- ‘wise, foreseeing’.

FAQ

What does imprudent mean?

Imprudent describes actions, decisions, or behavior that are unwise or that reveal private information in an unsuitable way.

What is the origin of imprudent?

Imprudent comes from late Middle English, derived from Latin imprudent- ‘not foreseeing’, built from the negative prefix in- ‘not’ plus prudent- ‘wise, foreseeing’.

How is imprudent different from reckless?

Reckless implies a disregard for danger, while imprudent focuses on a lack of foresight or discretion; a reckless act may be imprudent, but not all imprudent actions are reckless.

Can imprudent describe a person?

Imprudent is usually applied to actions or statements, but it can describe a person when the focus is on their habit of making unwise or indiscreet choices.

What are common mistakes when using imprudent?

A frequent error is placing imprudent after the noun (decision imprudent) instead of before it, and using the word for the wrong type of disclosure.

What are some synonyms for imprudent?

Synonyms include rash, reckless, ill‑advised, foolhardy, thoughtless, unwise, hasty, and careless.

What are antonyms for imprudent?

Antonyms are prudent, wise, and judicious.

How can I use imprudent in a sentence?

Example: It would be imprudent to ignore the safety warnings before the hike.

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