IGNORE Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

ignore

verb

ig-ˈnȯr

Definition of ignore

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

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 What did was distributed presence, unaffiliated supporters quietly carrying the cost of other people's staying power, until a government that could ignore a viral moment couldn't ignore a month-long occupation. — Penny Abeywardena, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 Allowing the government to review new model releases won’t fix the problem because that still ignores the most advanced, unreleased AI systems inside AI companies. — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 29 July 2026 Yet Paul's grounds for holding Fauci in contempt ignore that any false statement Fauci made to the committee in 2026 could have exposed him to accusations of perjury outside the time period of Biden's pardon. — Joey Garrison, USA Today, 29 July 2026 The stereotypical tokenmaxxer was staying up late — perhaps ignoring their significant other — while orchestrating an army of 24-hour AI agents performing work on their behalf. — Matt O’Brien, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for ignore

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ignore

Verb

After Graham was eulogized Tuesday in the nation's capital as an indefatigable dealmaker by the president, vice president and others, mourners in Columbia prepared to remember him Wednesday as the son of pool hall owners who never forgot his roots.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026
The 2026 installation, by Autumn Knight, echoes Knight’s performance this past April for the show, in which the artist played mother to audience members, treating them as children who had forgotten her birthday.

— Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 29 July 2026

Definition of forget

Verb

With the Great Wealth Transfer scheduled to get underway in the next few decades, younger generations could be forgiven for thinking a windfall might be coming their way.

— Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 29 July 2026
Find the less desirable line, however, and the hole remains forgiving enough to leave a straightforward approach and an excellent chance to make par.

— Jeff Goudy, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Definition of forgive

Verb

Because our governor and attorney general have long disregarded the most effective tools already at their disposal to fulfill their pronounced objective.

— Dean Lerner, Washington Post, 28 July 2026
Further, some parents disregard the possibility of jet lag altogether, as Julissa Baez, pediatrician and clinical professor at New York University, has observed in her practice.

— Sophia Dyer, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 July 2026

Definition of disregard

Verb

Students from Rebel Song Academy, Harmony Project and Base Academy of Music will all take the stage, while Stars Out, a youth performance group, will perform songs connected to Kansas City musicians whose contributions are often overlooked.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
The main bedroom and balcony overlook a wooden garden; inside, the interiors are flooded with light.

— Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 31 July 2026

Definition of overlook

Verb

However, the district instead neglected the building for three decades.

— Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026
Businesses often spend significant resources optimizing online user experiences while neglecting the physical experience customers encounter in the real world.

— Salman Altaf, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Definition of neglect

Verb

The enterprise fund is generated from airport user fees, such as airline terminal rents, aircraft landing fees, parking revenues and rental car customer facility charges, Johnson explained.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 27 July 2026
Indefinite Causal Order Quantum systems often display behaviors that are difficult to explain with classical physics.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 27 July 2026

Definition of explain

Verb

Everyone was happy to see Tim Ream excused his yellow card and Miguel Almiron cautioned for diving, including me.

— Graham Scott, New York Times, 22 July 2026
The 49ers’ secondary struggled to make plays last season, and while an anemic pass rush didn’t help, that can’t excuse a lack of production.

— Cam Inman, Mercury News, 21 July 2026

Definition of excuse

Browse Nearby Words

ignorant

ignore

ignored

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“Ignore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ignore. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of ignore

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