Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In an unthinking manner; without reflection; thoughtlessly.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb In an unthinking manner.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb in a thoughtless manner

Etymologies

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Examples

  • The English word unthinkingly is, broadly speaking, formally parallel to the word reformers, each being built up on a radical element which may occur as an independent verb (think, form), this radical element being preceded by an element (un -, re -) that conveys a definite and fairly concrete significance but that cannot be used independently, and followed by two elements (- ing, - ly; - er, - s) that limit the application of the radical concept in a relational sense.

    Chapter 4. Form in Language: Grammatical Processes 1921

  • Most of the time, he does so "unthinkingly," which is to say, utilizing wholly automatic and largely unconscious processes.

    Everybody Chris 2005

  • When Tsai reminded that he was deviating from the day's focus, Chen would not stop, saying the judge "unthinkingly" accepted the prosecution's argument that he was trying to interfere with trial and might flee the country if released.

    China Post Online - Taiwan , News , Taiwan newspaper 2009

  • When Tsai reminded that he was deviating from the day's focus, Chen would not stop, saying the judge "unthinkingly" accepted the prosecution's argument that he was trying to interfere with trial and might flee the country if released.

    China Post Online - Taiwan , News , Taiwan newspaper 2009

  • Forty years from now, Matt will unthinkingly use the term “African-American” and all the 28 year old mental of 2050 will have a similar hissy fit about how Yglesias is “the sort of person” who uses the phrase “African-American” when everybody knows the only word you can use in polite society is “Ebony” or whatever term Jesse Jackson IV comes up with by then.

    Matthew Yglesias » Harry Reid’s WTF Moment 2010

  • On the other hand, "he never could quite forget that every byte of information he'd posted online favorite color, vegetable, sexual position was stored in the databases of multinationals who swore they would never, ever use it – that he was owned, in other words, having sold himself unthinkingly at the very point in his life when he'd felt most subversive".

    How novels came to terms with the internet 2011

  • She unthinkingly pulled her sweater tighter around her.

    A Light at Winter’s End Julia London 2011

  • Some women, says the website Mumsnet – which is launching the campaign with the backing of doctors and other experts – have to wait several desperate days for the scan that will confirm their baby is dead, while many others are unthinkingly treated in hospital in the same wards and rooms as women who are pregnant or have new babies.

    Campaign launched to improve NHS care for women after miscarriage 2011

  • The lessons learned in Central Europe, where democracy had flowered relatively easily after 1989, were transferred unthinkingly to much poorer and more traumatized societies.

    Zero-Sum Future Gideon Rachman 2011

  • The population of the world accepts unthinkingly the rightness of the religion or the atheism it is born into.

    Getting Godless Bill Yarrow 2011

Comments

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  • "Henry the Eighth!", said Tom, unthinkingly.

    February 24, 2007

  • Boo!! :-)

    February 24, 2007