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
The lawsuit further claimed that DHS and ICE are disregarding federal law while moving quickly to implement a nationwide agenda. Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026 Hezbollah, the paramilitary group in Lebanon, got involved in the conflict, disregarding the state’s sovereignty and firing missiles and drones from Lebanese territory at an Israeli military site near Haifa. Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2026
Noun
Trump’s refusal to accept the outcome of the 2020 election, his failure to learn from past administrations about foreign policy strategy, and his disregard for constitutional checks and balances all reflect his own profound gaps in understanding. Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026 The disregard for linebacker Somewhere between the specific messaging delivered at the NFL Scouting Combine and the execution of the free-agent plan last week, a line of communication got broken. Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 16 Mar. 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 25 Mar. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on disregard

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