What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
cavalierly
Example
He cavalierly dismissed her concerns without even listening. [cavalierly: adverb]
Example
She spoke cavalierly about the importance of punctuality. [cavalierly: adverb]
carelessly
Example
He carelessly dropped his phone and it shattered into pieces. [carelessly: adverb]
Example
She carelessly left the stove on, causing a fire. [carelessly: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Carelessly is more commonly used than cavalierly in everyday language. Carelessly is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while cavalierly is less common and tends to be used in more formal or literary contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between cavalierly and carelessly?
While cavalierly is associated with a more formal or literary tone, carelessly is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.