ignore

verb

ig-ˈnȯr How to pronounce ignore (audio)
Definition of ignorenext
1
as in to forget
to fail to give proper attention to ignoring your health now will haunt you further down the road

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to forgive
to dismiss as of little importance although the movie is a cinematic tour de force, one can't ignore the fact that it seriously distorts history

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word ignore distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of ignore are disregard, forget, neglect, overlook, and slight. While all these words mean "to pass over without giving due attention," ignore implies a failure to regard something obvious.

ignored the snide remark

When is disregard a more appropriate choice than ignore?

The words disregard and ignore are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, disregard suggests voluntary inattention.

disregarded the wishes of his family

When could forget be used to replace ignore?

Although the words forget and ignore have much in common, forget may suggest either a willful ignoring or a failure to impress something on one's mind.

forget what others say

When can neglect be used instead of ignore?

The synonyms neglect and ignore are sometimes interchangeable, 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 ignore?

The words overlook and ignore can be used in similar contexts, but overlook suggests disregarding or ignoring through haste or lack of care.

in my rush I overlooked a key example

When would slight be a good substitute for ignore?

While the synonyms slight and ignore are close in meaning, 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 ignore Defense isn't ignored, though, as Williams is the ideal 1-technique next to Osa Odighizuwa. —John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Apr. 2025 But many of Tesla’s customers ignore the fine print and use the system hands-free anyway. —Andrew Evers,lora Kolodny, CNBC, 5 Apr. 2025 The pointless black bra has no aggressive underwire, no padding, barely any coverage to speak of, and seemingly has its wearers ignoring its adjustable straps. —Perrie Samotin, Glamour, 5 Apr. 2025 But the only thing that is wild here is how badly the science supporting fluoridation is being distorted or ignored. —Megha Satyanarayana, Scientific American, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ignore
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ignore
  1. forget
  2. forgive
  3. disregard
  4. overlook
  5. neglect
  6. explain
  7. justify
  8. excuse
Verb
  • When transferring goods into freezer-safe bags, don’t forget to date and label the bags.
    — Cody Godwin, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
  • With last year’s coaches off the staff, Polk and Baker’s disappointing rookie campaigns can be forgotten.
    — Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of forget
Verb
  • Fans have not forgiven him for trading a global superstar in the prime of his career.
    — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The other major factor here is that Joe Biden never forgave Barack Obama for putting his thumb on the scale for Hillary Clinton to become the nominee in 2016.
    — Terry Gross, NPR, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of forgive
Verb
  • More Nuggets news: Nuggets Shockingly Blow Up Front Office, Fire HC Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth The Nuggets disregarded Malone's success, including the championship win, and decided to fire him.
    — Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The judge advised the jurors to disregard that statement.
    — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of disregard
Verb
  • The mission began in fairly standard form: The SEALs infiltrated a bleak and dusty corner of Ramadi that happened to overlook a marketplace and, unbeknownst to them, also sat across from the lair of the Iraqi insurgents.
    — Fred Schruers, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
  • This approach allows organizations to cultivate lifelong relationships with new supporters for whom standard fundraising strategies may have previously overlooked. 7.
    — Larry Bomback, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of overlook
Verb
  • However, neglecting compliance can have disastrous consequences.
    — Rasmus Holst, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Multi-club ownership throws up potential for conflicts of interest and the prospect of sheer neglect towards the smaller clubs in a portfolio.
    — The Athletic FC Podcast, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of neglect
Verb
  • And as one Redditor explained, Quito is a great option.
    — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2025
  • They were approved in the fall so that students could enroll in the courses in time for the 2025-26 school year, Purcell explained at the March meeting.
    — Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of explain
Verb
  • Officials were pressed to justify the action on Sunday morning news shows, where again the confused messaging was apparent.
    — Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2025
  • The law was originally justified as helping to ensure worker safety on the job, prior to the establishment of federal and state labor protections.
    — John Faso, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of justify
Verb
  • Until Henry momentarily excuses himself from the table, that is, and the person or persons behind these winky-wink messages tell her to poison Henry ASAP or the menacing guy currently hiding in her apartment will kill her boy.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The 2025 Masters is here, and more than Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele will be on display this week at Augusta National Golf Club for all the fans — excuse us, patrons — to bear witness to.
    — Hugh Kellenberger, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of excuse

Browse Nearby Words

ignorant
ignore
ignored
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Cite this Entry

“Ignore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ignore. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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