forgetful

adjective

for·get·ful | \ fər-ˈget-fəl

How to pronounce forgetful (audio)

, fȯr- \

Definition of forgetful

1 : likely to forget

2 : characterized by negligent failure to remember : neglectful

3 : inducing oblivion forgetful sleep

Other Words from forgetful Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about forgetful

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Synonyms & Antonyms for forgetful

Synonyms

absentminded

Antonyms

retentive

Examples of forgetful in a Sentence

He became forgetful in his old age. we become more forgetful as we get older

Recent Examples on the Web But the foregone conclusion that this was Gonzaga’s win before tipoff was inherently forgetful that Baylor also was a worthy No. 1 seed, not a longshot. — Marc Bona, cleveland, "How did CBS do with its coverage of Baylor-Gonzaga NCAA championship?," 6 Apr. 2021 Without those regulatory guardrails, bull markets can make investors forgetful. — NBC News, "Hedge fund bets set off market gyrations," 29 Mar. 2021 And with all the time in lockdown making our brains foggy and forgetful, everyone could use the boost in mood and concentration that comes from a good night’s sleep. — Anna Haines, Forbes, "20 Spring Forward Essentials For A Better Sleep," 11 Mar. 2021 Some people may be forgetful and could cause inconvenience by arriving late or not at all. — Tribune Content Agency, oregonlive, "Horoscope for March 12, 2021: Virgo, take the bull by the horns; Scorpio, hold tightly to your money," 12 Mar. 2021 Imagine that the elder is a frail and forgetful female with a responsible daughter who lives at a distance. — Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, "What Adult Children Can Do To Prevent Caregivers From Ripping Off Aging Parents," 11 Mar. 2021 Biden seemed forgetful at times, stumbled in finishing sentences, mispronounced names, and so on. — Washington Examiner, "Trump's 2024 prospects look bleak," 11 Feb. 2021 Despite losing in the 101-pound final, Elyria High School’s Riley Banyas made a rather forgetful day for area wrestlers a bit more memorable on the first day of the Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association Girls State Wrestling Championships. — cleveland, "Elyria’s Riley Banyas finishes second at 101 pounds as NE Ohio wrestlers struggle in girls state meet," 20 Feb. 2021 For forgetful types, simple reminders—by text or voice message—can be powerful. — Claudia Wallis, Scientific American, "7 Ways to Reduce Reluctance to Take COVID Vaccines," 18 Feb. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'forgetful.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

15 Apr 2021

Cite this Entry

“Forgetful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forgetful. Accessed 12 May. 2021.

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More Definitions for forgetful

forgetful

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of forgetful

: tending to forget things : forgetting things often or easily

—used to say that someone has forgotten something

See the full definition for forgetful in the English Language Learners Dictionary

forgetful

adjective

for·get·ful | \ fər-ˈget-fəl

\

Kids Definition of forgetful

: forgetting easily

Comments on forgetful

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