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
The building was in the neighborhood of Bab Tabbaneh, one of the poorest areas in Lebanon’s second-largest city, where residents have long complained of government neglect and shoddy infrastructure. —Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2026 What happened in Hanceville lays bare the dangers of power and neglect. —Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
Authorities contacted Animal Control after discovering a dog in the apartment that appeared neglected. —Christopher Harris, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026 Be wary of neglecting your personal life for your professional one! —Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for neglect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for neglect
  1. disrepair
  2. negligence
  3. ignore
  4. forget
  5. fail
  6. failure
Noun
  • New elementary schools Declining enrollment and old buildings in disrepair have sprouted conversations about consolidating Olathe’s elementary schools.
    — Kendrick Calfee February 11, Kansas City Star, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Millions of those homes have fallen into disrepair, according to a 2023 report from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.
    — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of disrepair
Noun
  • Plaintiffs in the Los Angeles bellwether and related cases have sought to get around those protections by relying on claims about corporate negligence and flawed product design, similar to those brought against opioid maker Purdue Pharma in recent years and Big Tobacco in the 1990s.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Google similarly denies any claims of negligence.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of negligence
Verb
  • Still, even inside the awards-season bubble, the turmoil surrounding the movie business, the country and the world beyond it was hard to ignore.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
  • They're exhausted by the constant airing of grievances having little to do with what's actually going on in the country, and by the broad generalizations about, well, everything, that ignore context, nuance and facts to promote a political viewpoint.
    — Brenda Looper, Arkansas Online, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of ignore
Verb
  • Crazy how that works, and crazy that so many people seem to have forgotten that lesson (and many others) from their civics classes in high school.
    — Brenda Looper, Arkansas Online, 11 Feb. 2026
  • But even if that New Year's resolution of clearing out the basement once and for all has been forgotten or abandoned by now, the year is still young.
    — Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of forget
Verb
  • That shutdown ended with a promise to vote on extending the subsidies, which failed.
    — Riley Beggin, Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Previous versions of the bill failed to gain traction in both chambers last year.
    — Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of fail
Noun
  • Because of Tuesday’s rule failure, any bills tucked into that measure sit at a standstill.
    — Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The death certificate listed Fisher’s cause of death as septic shock, a bacterial infection, acute kidney failure and pneumonia.
    — Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of failure

Browse Nearby Words

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 14 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on neglect

Nglish: Translation of neglect for Spanish Speakers

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