neglect 1 of 2

noun

Definition of neglectnext
1
as in disrepair
the state of being unattended to or not cared for for years the barn sat in neglect until one day it finally fell down

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2
as in negligence
the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action your ongoing neglect of your health is going to land you in the hospital someday

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neglect

2 of 2

verb

ni-ˈglekt How to pronounce neglect (audio)
1
as in to ignore
to fail to give proper attention to as usual the news media neglected the real issues of the campaign and focused on personalities

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2
as in to forget
to leave undone or unattended to especially through carelessness I've neglected my garden, and now it's overgrown with weeds

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3
as in to fail
to miss the opportunity or obligation conveniently, the job applicant neglected to mention his criminal record

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word neglect distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of neglect are disregard, forget, ignore, overlook, and slight. While all these words mean "to pass over without giving due attention," neglect implies giving insufficient attention to something that merits one's attention.

habitually neglected his studies

When could disregard be used to replace neglect?

In some situations, the words disregard and neglect are roughly equivalent. However, disregard suggests voluntary inattention.

disregarded the wishes of his family

When would forget be a good substitute for neglect?

While the synonyms forget and neglect are close in meaning, forget may suggest either a willful ignoring or a failure to impress something on one's mind.

forget what others say

When is ignore a more appropriate choice than neglect?

The words ignore and neglect are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ignore implies a failure to regard something obvious.

ignored the snide remark

When is it sensible to use overlook instead of neglect?

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

in my rush I overlooked a key example

In what contexts can slight take the place of neglect?

The meanings of slight and neglect largely overlap; 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 neglect
Noun
Meanwhile, Casey, in jail awaiting trial initially on charges of child neglect, later upgraded to first-degree murder, was far more interested in getting her boyfriend’s phone number on a family call than discussing what had happened with her daughter. — Aja Romano, Vox, 4 Mar. 2025 The suit alleges negligence, abuse or neglect of a dependent adult, loss of consortium and infliction of emotional distress. — Tony Saavedra, Orange County Register, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
But timing and balance are key—going overboard won’t speed up results, and neglecting it altogether can stall progress. — Tatiana Dias, Vogue, 12 Mar. 2025 For years, American national-security experts have rightly focused on addressing the rising threat from China, but wrongly neglected the threat from Russia, including this ideological menace. — Michael McFaul, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for neglect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for neglect
  1. disrepair
  2. negligence
  3. ignore
  4. forget
  5. fail
  6. failure
  7. disregard
Noun
  • Image On the other side of East 138th Street, in a tall public housing building in far greater disrepair than Mr. Mejia’s walkup — the lobby ceiling leaks water near the mailboxes — Caleb Rijos, 14, lived with his father and sister on the 14th floor.
    — Michael Wilson, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
  • As noted on the Alamo website, the site fell into disrepair until the U.S. Army took it over in the 1840s as a supply hub, only to be abandoned again with the building of a more permanent military garrison at Fort Sam Houston.
    — Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2025
Definition of disrepair
Noun
  • The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleges negligence, design defects and a failure to warn riders about the potential danger of the wing coaster at the Valencia amusement park.
    — Brady MacDonald, Orange County Register, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Hawley’s parents Anne and William are suing, alleging wrongful death, negligence, a design defect in the coaster and failure to warn riders of potential injury.
    — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of negligence
Verb
  • Many such studies ignore, rather than seriously examine, biological realities.
    — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 23 Mar. 2025
  • 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
Definition of ignore
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
Definition of forget
Verb
  • The country singer previously featured in December 2020, two months after he was dropped from an episode after failing to take Covid precautions on a night out.
    — Peter White, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Alas, the thick-headed goon that Vito sends to whack Frank in the lobby of his lux Manhattan apartment building (a swollen and unrecognizable Cosmo Jarvis as the aptly named Vincent Gigante) fails to follow through with a double-tap, and Frank survives with a scratch to the head.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of fail
Noun
  • After a three-year run of perfect performance—with no launch failures or any other serious malfunctions—SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket has suffered a handful of issues in recent months.
    — Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 14 Mar. 2025
  • But, as the failure of Prohibition attests, drinking is deeply embedded in our society.
    — Dylan Scott, Vox, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of failure
Verb
  • 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
  • Pelletier is accused of disregarding the woman’s report.
    — Julia Marnin, Sacramento Bee, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of disregard

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negativists
neglect
neglected
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Cite this Entry

“Neglect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/neglect. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

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