disregard

1 of 2

verb

dis·​re·​gard ˌdis-ri-ˈgärd How to pronounce disregard (audio)
disregarded; disregarding; disregards
Synonyms of disregardnext

transitive verb

: to pay no attention to : treat as unworthy of regard or notice
Please disregard what I said in my last email.
He disregarded her advice.

disregard

2 of 2

noun

: the act of treating someone or something as unworthy of regard or notice : the state of being disregarded (see disregard entry 1) : neglect
showed a complete disregard for the rules
disregardful adjective
Choose the Right Synonym for disregard

neglect, disregard, ignore, overlook, slight, forget mean to pass over without giving due attention.

neglect implies giving insufficient attention to something that merits one's attention.

habitually neglected his studies

disregard suggests voluntary inattention.

disregarded the wishes of his family

ignore implies a failure to regard something obvious.

ignored the snide remark

overlook suggests disregarding or ignoring through haste or lack of care.

in my rush I overlooked a key example

slight implies contemptuous or disdainful disregarding or omitting.

slighted several major authors in her survey

forget may suggest either a willful ignoring or a failure to impress something on one's mind.

forget what others say

Examples of disregard in a Sentence

Verb Please disregard what I said before. He disregarded his father's advice and left school. Some students completely disregard the rules of the school. Noun They treated the rules with complete disregard. revelers firing guns in the air with complete disregard for the possible consequences
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
America is offhandedly disregarding science. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 15 May 2026 Even the economic costs of excessive alcohol use, which top $240 billion annually — more than every American’s medical debt combined — have been disregarded. Lev Facher, STAT, 12 May 2026
Noun
The comments underscored what prosecutors described as a complete disregard for human life, the outlet reported. Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026 Under current Kansas law, reckless driving is defined as operating a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for disregard

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1613, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1659, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of disregard was in 1613

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Disregard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disregard. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

disregard

1 of 2 verb
dis·​re·​gard ˌdis-ri-ˈgärd How to pronounce disregard (audio)
: to pay no attention to : treat as unworthy of regard or notice

disregard

2 of 2 noun
: the act of disregarding : the state of being disregarded
disregardful adjective

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