neglect 1 of 2

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

neglect

2 of 2

verb

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
Ozaukee County prosecutors charged the 47-year-old Thiensville mother with two counts of child abuse, two counts of child neglect, battery, and bail jumping in connection with the Feb. 19 incident, court records show. Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 27 Feb. 2025 Kristin Griffin has also been charged with endangering the life or health of a child and abuse or criminal neglect of a person with a disability in connection with her son's death. Landon Mion, Fox News, 22 Feb. 2025
Verb
According to the suit, Butler continued to reside as a holdover resident after the lease expired on Aug. 10, 2024 while neglecting to pay rent for two months. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2025 Among the other lease violations: Butler hired his own pool-cleaning people, who neglected their duties, and algae formed and the pumps broke, as per the suit. Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for neglect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for neglect
Noun
  • 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
  • But the stone bridge has fallen into disrepair, with the Chicago Department of Transportation cordoning it off to pedestrian traffic in 2013.
    Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • This evidence was instrumental in establishing negligence.
    Lars Daniel, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Their comments came just a few weeks after a court in Argentina dropped charges of criminal negligence against three of the five people indicted in connection with the singer’s passing after a fall from a third-story balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina last October.
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • But in the 1990s, when social practice art was gaining traction within European museums (especially in the United Kingdom), most Latin American institutions were ignoring that development, which remained limited to underground networks.
    Fabiola Iza, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2025
  • And no, not because Disney is ignoring him or passing him over.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Prescriptions: Aside from your pill bottles don’t forget your eyeglasses or contact lenses.
    Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2025
  • And don't forget to follow Allure on Instagram and TikTok—or subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on all things beauty.
    Deanna Pai, Allure, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Because this isn’t a video file, a media player will fail to play it.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Despite being aware of the cellmate’s dangerous behavior, staff failed to intervene, according to a lawsuit.
    Stories by Real-Time News team, with AI summarization, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Obituaries Norma Rae Long, an educator who taught sports and directed lifelong learning programs, died of multiple organ failure Feb. 15 at Gilchrist Center Towson.
    Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 2 Mar. 2025
  • When compared to other ethnicities and races, Blacks are disproportionately affected by the health burdens and diseases that lead to organ failure and result in the need for an organ transplant, especially kidney transplants.
    Andrew Jones, Hartford Courant, 2 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Such attitudes disregard the hard realities of life in the United States for certain Americans.
    K. Ward Cummings, Baltimore Sun, 2 Mar. 2025
  • The Pentagon, Department of Justice, FBI, Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) all instructed employees to disregard the email or said ignoring it would not result in termination.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 1 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Neglect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/neglect. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

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