Mindless
/ˈmaɪndləs/
Definitions
2 meaningsLacking intelligence; stupid; not showing thought or care.
/ˈmaɪndləs/
Lacking intelligence or thought
He performed the task in a mindless fashion, without paying attention to detail.
💡 Simply: When something's mindless, it's like it's done without thinking. Like when you eat a whole bag of chips while watching TV – you weren't really paying attention to what you were doing!
👶 For kids: When something is mindless, it means it's not smart, or not thinking very hard.
More Examples
The mindless violence in the movie was disturbing.
I spent a mindless afternoon watching television.
How It's Used
"The mindless chatter in the background was distracting."
"The study explored mindless eating habits and their impact on weight gain."
Requiring or involving little or no mental effort.
/ˈmaɪndləs/
Requiring or involving no mental effort; automatic
She enjoyed the mindless clicking of the knitting needles.
💡 Simply: When something's mindless, it means you don't have to think much to do it, like when you drive to work every day and don't even remember the drive because it's become so automatic.
👶 For kids: When something is mindless, it means you don't have to use your brain much.
More Examples
The mindless repetition of the training exercise became tedious.
I find doing the dishes a mindless activity that allows my brain to switch off.
How It's Used
"She found the repetitive tasks of data entry to be mindless but essential."
"The program automates the mindless jobs, letting humans focus on creativity."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
mindless of
Ignoring; disregarding.
"He was mindless of her feelings and went ahead with his plan."
From "mind" + "-less", indicating a lack of mind or thought. The term evolved from its literal meaning to encompass actions or behaviors lacking purpose or consideration.
The word "mindless" appeared in the late 16th century. Initially, it mirrored its literal meaning referring to individuals or actions devoid of thought or feeling. Its usage broadened over time, with its current meaning well-established by the 19th century.
Memory tip
Imagine a person with no 'mind' or brain working. Their actions are 'less' thought-out.
Word Origin
"The root word is "mind", from Old English "mynd", which meant 'memory, thought, intention'. The suffix "-less" indicates the absence of something."