What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
shriftless
Example
He was fired from his job for being shriftless and never completing his tasks. [shriftless: adjective]
Example
She lived a shriftless life, never making any plans or setting goals for herself. [shriftless: adjective]
irresponsible
Example
He was deemed irresponsible for not showing up to work on time. [irresponsible: adjective]
Example
She acted irresponsibly by driving under the influence of alcohol. [irresponsibly: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Irresponsible is a more common word than shriftless and is used in everyday language to describe a wide range of behaviors. Shriftless is an old-fashioned term that is rarely used in modern English.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between shriftless and irresponsible?
Irresponsible is a more formal word than shriftless, which is considered informal and old-fashioned.