benign neglect

noun

: an attitude or policy of ignoring an often delicate or undesirable situation that one is held to be responsible for dealing with

Examples of benign neglect in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Unlike so many houses in the Pines—subjected to ocean air and storm surges, the benign neglect of absentee owners, and the downright negligence of seasonal renters—this one proved pristine. Andrew Sessa, Architectural Digest, 22 July 2024 Instead of offering benign neglect, the United States and its partners would do well to prepare for contingencies that might arise from Pakistan’s potential political and economic disarray. Husain Haqqani, Foreign Affairs, 2 Aug. 2022 The mayor started talking a lot during the week about how officers on his watch have been proactively engaging with people underground who appear severely mentally ill instead of leaving them in a state of supposedly benign neglect. Harry Siegel, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2024 The couple spent years restoring the house, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, and had suffered from years of benign neglect. Frederick N. Rasmussen, Baltimore Sun, 10 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for benign neglect 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'benign neglect.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of benign neglect was in 1899

Dictionary Entries Near benign neglect

Cite this Entry

“Benign neglect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/benign%20neglect. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.

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