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

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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
The email came despite the fact that Harris' term was not set to expire until 2028, and despite a federal law that dictates board members can only be fired for cause, such as inefficiency, malfeasance or neglect of duty. Carrie Johnson, NPR, 17 Sep. 2025 The neglect, the cruelty, the starvation. Tj MacIas, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
The Left has long neglected this imperative. Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025 Citizens should not be asked to fund systems where safety is neglected. Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for neglect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for neglect
Noun
  • The hotel fell into some level of disrepair as the prior ownership group was preoccupied with three court proceedings that were filed in an attempt to retain control of the property, according to BrightSpire.
    George Avalos, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The problem is especially acute in cities like Philadelphia, where many school buildings are over 70 years old and in disrepair.
    Ana Santos Rutschman, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Poor hiring decisions since late 2021 have created and compounded an environment of incompetence and negligence as well as a toxic culture that has driven away valuable staff, volunteers and rescue partners.
    Michael Wagner, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
  • The civil suit alleges McNutt's civil rights were violated and cites negligence on behalf of the city, Milwaukee Police Department officer Seng Xiong and former officer Lauren Marowsky, and Justin Ellis, the driver in the car fleeing police.
    David Clarey, jsonline.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • What wasn’t said is hard to ignore.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Congress and state legislatures should investigate and hold the FDA accountable for ignoring overwhelming evidence of harm.
    Lila Rose, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Critics are waxing nostalgic for the edgy and outrageous comments of social critic humorists such as Dick Gregory, Mort Sahl, George Carlin, and Don Imus, forgetting that none of those figures were ever the host of a broadcast network TV show.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 19 Sep. 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.
    Lily Wohlner, Allure, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In what was billed as the biggest game in the history of this border feud, Indiana attacked from the first quarter and the Illini failed to respond.
    Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2025
  • Due in part to that battle, Bumgarner failed to pitch at least six innings for the first time in two months.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But the shot has been a life-saving public health intervention against the disease, which can lead to severe health problems, including liver cancer and failure, and death.
    Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Johnson has faced six rule vote failures under his speakership, with the most recent on July 15.
    Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Conversely, the categorization system behind the Cato Institute’s study disregards the complexities of some cases that have multiple motivations to consider, including an adherence to incel ideology.
    Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 22 Sep. 2025
  • Netflix's sequel to the 1974 original disregards all other installments and was plagued by behind-the-scenes trouble, which is evident in the final product.
    Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Neglect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/neglect. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.

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