thoughtfulness
thoughtfulness
Pronunciation
/ˈθɔːtf(ə)lnəs/
The word "thoughtfulness" has 3 syllables:
thought = /ˈθɔːt/
th = /θ/ - voiceless dental fricative
o = /ɔː/ - long open-mid back rounded vowel
t = /t/ - voiceless alveolar plosive
ful = /fʊl/
f = /f/ - voiceless labiodental fricative
u = /ʊ/ - near-close near-back rounded vowel
l = /l/ - voiced alveolar lateral approximant
ness = /nəs/
n = /n/ - voiced alveolar nasal
ə = /ə/ - schwa
s = /s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative
Word Form Variations
The word "thoughtfulness" is a noun, so it has no plural form. However, there are a few other word form variations of the word, including:
Adjective: thoughtful
Adverb: thoughtfully
Verb: to be thoughtful
The adjective "thoughtful" means "showing careful thought or consideration." The adverb "thoughtfully" means "in a thoughtful manner." The verb "to be thoughtful" means "to show careful thought or consideration."
For example, you could say "She was very thoughtful in her gift selection." or "He spoke thoughtfully about the issue." or "I try to be thoughtful in my interactions with others."
Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Noun:
Thoughtfulness: the quality of being thoughtful; careful consideration or regard for others.
Synonyms: consideration, care, regard, mindfulness, attentiveness, thoughtfulness, circumspection, circumspectness, prudence, sagacity, wisdom.
Antonyms: thoughtlessness, carelessness, heedlessness, inconsideration, recklessness, rashness, impulsivity, impetuosity.
Adjective:
Thoughtful: showing careful thought or consideration.
Synonyms: considerate, caring, kind, attentive, mindful, thoughtful, considerate, circumspect, prudent, sagacious, wise.
Antonyms: thoughtless, careless, heedless, inconsiderate, reckless, rash, impulsive, impetuous.
Adverb:
Thoughtfully: in a thoughtful manner; with careful thought or consideration.
Synonyms: considerately, carefully, thoughtfully, circumspectly, prudently, sagaciously, wisely.
Antonyms: thoughtlessly, carelessly, heedlessly, inconsiderately, recklessly, rashly, impulsively, impetuously.
Verb:
To be thoughtful: to show careful thought or consideration.
Synonyms: to be considerate, to be caring, to be kind, to be attentive, to be mindful, to be thoughtful, to be circumspect, to be prudent, to be sagacious, to be wise.
Antonyms: to be thoughtless, to be careless, to be heedless, to be inconsiderate, to be reckless, to be rash, to be impulsive, to be impetuous.
Examples of Use
Here are several real-world examples of use for the word "thoughtfulness":
In books:
"The thoughtful man, then, is he who, in his actions, consults his reason, and the good of others." - Francis Bacon, "Of Truth"
"Thoughtfulness is one of the most beautiful of virtues, and it is one that is often overlooked." - Jane Austen, "Pride and Prejudice"
"The most thoughtful people I know are those who are most open to new experiences and ideas." - Malcolm Gladwell, "The Tipping Point"
In newspapers:
"The thoughtful gesture of a stranger brought comfort to a grieving family." - The New York Times, "Stranger's Thoughtful Gesture Brings Comfort to Grieving Family"
"The thoughtful words of a friend can make all the difference in a difficult time." - The Washington Post, "The Power of Thoughtful Words"
"The thoughtful actions of a community can make a big difference in the world." - The Guardian, "The Power of Thoughtful Action"
In online publications:
"The Thoughtfulness of a Simple Gift" - The Huffington Post
"The Importance of Thoughtfulness in Relationships" - Psychology Today
"How to Be More Thoughtful in Your Everyday Life" - The Good Men Project
In various entertainment mediums and platforms:
In the movie "The Shawshank Redemption," Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is a thoughtful and caring man who is wrongly imprisoned for murder. He shows his thoughtfulness through his actions, such as helping other prisoners and writing letters to his wife.
In the TV show "The Good Place," Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell) is a woman who is sent to the Good Place after her death, even though she doesn't deserve it. She shows her thoughtfulness by helping others and trying to become a better person.
In the song "Thoughtfulness" by John Mayer, the singer sings about the importance of being thoughtful in relationships. He says that thoughtfulness is "the key to a happy life" and that it "makes the world a better place."
10 Famous Quotes Using the term Thoughtfulness
"A small act of thoughtfulness can make a big difference." - Unknown
"Thoughtfulness is the mother of all virtues." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
"The most thoughtful people I know are those who are most open to new experiences and ideas." - Malcolm Gladwell
"Thoughtfulness is a gift that you can give to yourself and to others." - Unknown
"The thoughtful man, then, is he who, in his actions, consults his reason, and the good of others." - Francis Bacon
"Thoughtfulness is one of the most beautiful of virtues, and it is one that is often overlooked." - Jane Austen
"The thoughtful words of a friend can make all the difference in a difficult time." - The Washington Post
"The thoughtful actions of a community can make a big difference in the world." - The Guardian
"The most thoughtful people I know are those who are most kind and compassionate." - Unknown
"Thoughtfulness is the key to a happy life." - John Mayer
Etymology
The word "thoughtfulness" comes from the Old English word "þoht" meaning "thought" and the suffix "-ful" meaning "full of." So, the literal meaning of "thoughtfulness" is "full of thought."
The word "þoht" is derived from the Proto-Germanic word *thankija-, which means "to think." The suffix "-ful" is a common Germanic suffix that means "full of."
The word "thoughtfulness" first appeared in the English language in the 12th century. It originally meant "contemplative" or "absorbed in thought." However, the meaning of the word has evolved over time.
In the 15th century, it began to be used to mean "showing careful thought or consideration for others." This is the meaning of the word that is most commonly used today.
Here are some examples of how the word "thoughtfulness" was used in the 12th century:
"He was a thoughtful man, given to contemplation."
"She was lost in thoughtfulness, unaware of her surroundings."
"The thoughtful silence of the room was broken by the sound of a bird singing."
As the meaning of the word evolved, it began to be used in more specific contexts. For example, in the 16th century, it was used to describe the act of giving a gift to someone with careful consideration for their needs and preferences.
Today, the word "thoughtfulness" is used in a wide variety of contexts. It can be used to describe a person's character, a specific act, or a general attitude. It is a word that is often used to express appreciation for someone's kindness or consideration.
Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Thoughtfulness
A thoughtful gesture - A kind or considerate act.
A thoughtful gift - A gift that is given with careful consideration for the recipient's needs and preferences.
Thoughtful words - Kind or considerate words that are spoken with care.
Thoughtful silence - A silence that is not awkward or uncomfortable, but rather is reflective and meaningful.
Thoughtful consideration - Careful thought or consideration for others.
Thoughtful action - An action that is taken with careful thought or consideration for others.
A thoughtful person - A person who is kind, considerate, and thoughtful of others.
To be thoughtful - To be kind, considerate, and thoughtful of others.
Posts Related to Thoughtfulness
Source Information
Definition of thoughtfulness from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.