Foolish, reckless, or acting without proper thought; characterized by poor judgment or impulsive behavior.
Variant spelling of 'hare-brained' (from the hare's supposed timidity or chaos) or from 'hair-brained' (suggesting a mind as thin as hair). The modern form typically uses this spelling.
This word changed spelling over time—'hare-brained' originally referred to the chaotic hare from fables, but 'hair-brained' became the common form, and now we're not sure which is 'right'.
Historically conflated with 'harebrained' (from the scatter-brained nature of hares), but 'hairbrained' as a standalone gendered variant emerged in 19th-century usage feminizing silliness or frivolous thinking, often applied dismissively to women.
Use 'thoughtless' or 'impulsive' for neutral description. If retaining the term, apply equally across genders without gendered stereotypes.
["impulsive","reckless","thoughtless"]
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