mindless

adjective

mind·​less ˈmīn(d)-ləs How to pronounce mindless (audio)
Synonyms of mindlessnext
1
a
: marked by a lack of mind or consciousness
a mindless sleep
b(1)
: marked by or displaying no use of the powers of the intellect
mindless violence
(2)
: requiring little attention or thought
especially : not intellectually challenging or stimulating
mindless work
a mindless movie
2
: not mindful : heedless
mindless of the consequences
mindlessly adverb
mindlessness noun

Synonyms of mindless

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Examples of mindless in a Sentence

The article was a mindless piece of nonsense. The movie has been criticized for its mindless violence. a mindless waste of time He seemed to be completely mindless of the danger he was facing. She was mindless of her appearance.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Burdick seemed to have drawn directly from McCarthy’s experience, the hopelessness of fighting with his father over a world his father had already ruined, the surrender to indulgence and mindless violence because…why not? — Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026 The position sounded to me like a paper pusher, a mindless cog in the bureaucracy. — Bob Woodward, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026 The idea of animals as slaves of their instincts or mindless automatons evaporates. — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026 This is a snack for people who aren’t looking for mindless crunching and munching. — Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mindless

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of mindless was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

mind-healer
mindless
mind-numbing
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mindless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mindless. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

mindless

adjective
mind·​less ˈmīn-(d)ləs How to pronounce mindless (audio)
1
a
: lacking the ability to think, feel, or respond
a mindless killer
b
: showing no use of the intelligence
mindless violence
2
: not mindful
mindlessly adverb
mindlessness noun
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