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Synonym Chooser

How is the word disregard distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of disregard are forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, and slight. While all these words mean "to pass over without giving due attention," disregard suggests voluntary inattention.

disregarded the wishes of his family

In what contexts can forget take the place of disregard?

The words forget and disregard are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, forget may suggest either a willful ignoring or a failure to impress something on one's mind.

forget what others say

When would ignore be a good substitute for disregard?

While the synonyms ignore and disregard are close in meaning, ignore implies a failure to regard something obvious.

ignored the snide remark

When is neglect a more appropriate choice than disregard?

The words neglect and disregard can be used in similar contexts, but neglect implies giving insufficient attention to something that merits one's attention.

habitually neglected his studies

Where would overlook be a reasonable alternative to disregard?

The synonyms overlook and disregard are sometimes interchangeable, but overlook suggests disregarding or ignoring through haste or lack of care.

in my rush I overlooked a key example

When might slight be a better fit than disregard?

In some situations, the words slight and disregard are roughly equivalent. However, slight implies contemptuous or disdainful disregarding or omitting.

slighted several major authors in her survey

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of disregard
Noun
Another example is in the Zambezi River Basin in southern Africa, where countries increasingly disregard agreements to notify one another before building projects that will affect the water flow. Melissa McCracken, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2025 The Nets took care of business on Sunday, with complete disregard for NBA Draft lottery odds, defeating the Atlanta Hawks 122-114 at Barclays Center on the second night of a back-to-back set. C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2025
Verb
Sacks’ divestments mark a stark contrast to the behavior of others in the administration, and follow the first Trump term, during which conflicts of interest were routinely disregarded. Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 14 Mar. 2025 Schumer, meanwhile, disregarded those calls, voting to advance the stopgap and bringing nine of his colleagues with him. Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for disregard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disregard
Verb
  • Some complained that the editorials have become like CNN, MSNBC, and other news sources that Republicans despise.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 18 Mar. 2025
  • The stifling centripetal forces of globalism despise the defiant particularism of the Jewish nation and the modern Jewish state.
    Newsweek, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Yet there’s no ignoring the fact that the Rockies would’ve loved to have Brito penciled in as their second baseman this year.
    Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Many such studies ignore, rather than seriously examine, biological realities.
    Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 23 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • You would be forgiven for mistaking the Slim, at a glance, for the original model.
    Matthew Buzzi, PCMAG, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Known more as a producer of top-end future-NBA talent like Ben Simmons, Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and current Duke phenom Cooper Flagg, you’d be forgiven for thinking the prep school even cared about track and field.
    Cory Mull, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Flanked by walls made of black lava stone, the young poets of the Goma Slam Session denounced the pillaging of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s abundant natural resources and the indifference of its political elites.
    Patricia Huon, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Five people, ranging in age from 19 to 38, have been arrested and charged with second-degree murder with depraved indifference, according to the release.
    Zoe Sottile, CNN, 15 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Importantly for Coleman, Barry has never forgotten who has done well by him.
    Simon Hughes, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025
  • From the start, many critics worried that school summer vacations would lead students to forget their lessons and waste time in unhealthy idleness.
    Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 23 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • More orthogonal in spirit, the sister’s side features a central staircase and internal windows so that the primary suite overlooks the kitchen and dining area, borrowing light from the rear façade.
    Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Yet, too often, organizations overlook the importance of a holistic, future-ready digital infrastructure.
    Ciaran Roche, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The film runs a lean 80 minutes, dipping into Get Out and Rosemary’s Baby territory as Yvonne begins to doubt — and then reluctantly embrace — the eeriness of her roommates’ rustic nonchalance.
    Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Trump did not demonstrate the same nonchalance during his first term, said Paul Donovan, chief economist at UBS Global Wealth Management.
    Anna Cooban, CNN, 17 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Most of Ukraine’s ravaged cultural sites are like the shelled Reims Cathedral: perhaps not directly targeted, but destroyed with ruthless unconcern.
    Jason Farago, New York Times, 27 Dec. 2022
  • Marked by the artist’s apparent unconcern with conventional modeling and draftsmanship and by the velvety smoothness of his brushwork, the paintings exude an aura of quietude and utter perfection unrivaled in the work of his peers.
    Mary Tompkins Lewis, WSJ, 26 Nov. 2022

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Cite this Entry

“Disregard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disregard. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

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