neglectful

adjective

ne·​glect·​ful ni-ˈglek(t)-fəl How to pronounce neglectful (audio)
: given to neglecting : careless, heedless
neglectfully adverb
neglectfulness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for neglectful

negligent, neglectful, lax, slack, remiss mean culpably careless or indicative of such carelessness.

negligent implies inattention to one's duty or business.

negligent about writing a note of thanks

neglectful adds a more disapproving implication of laziness or deliberate inattention.

a society callously neglectful of the poor

lax implies a blameworthy lack of strictness, severity, or precision.

a reporter lax about accurate quotation

slack implies want of due or necessary diligence or care.

slack workmanship

remiss implies blameworthy carelessness shown in slackness, forgetfulness, or neglect.

had been remiss in their familial duties

Examples of neglectful in a Sentence

he's certainly not a neglectful father as he takes very good care of his children
Recent Examples on the Web At the trial, the prosecution portrayed Crumbley as a neglectful mother. Phil Helsel, NBC News, 7 Feb. 2024 Jennifer Crumbley seeks to portray ordinary family life Throughout the trial, prosecutors have painted Jennifer Crumbley as a neglectful parent who ignored warning signs before her son's rampage. Gina Kaufman, Detroit Free Press, 2 Feb. 2024 Jennifer Crumbley seeks to portray ordinary family life Throughout the trial, prosecutors have painted Jennifer Crumbley as a neglectful parent who ignored warning signs before her son gunned down his classmates on Nov. 30, 2021. Gina Kaufman, USA TODAY, 2 Feb. 2024 Offering the gamut of services a person might need to turn their life around, the center represents a starkly more humane approach than the neglectful, abusive treatment federal authorities documented in Miami-Dade jails as recently as 2011. Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2024 Perhaps there were significantly painful experiences with your caregivers such as a parent abandoning you, dying, or being neglectful. Shon Faye, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2024 This officer was either grossly neglectful, incompetent or a liar. Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 22 Jan. 2024 If, however, the surveillance system fines one neglectful neighbor more than another because its algorithm favors one skin color or clothing style over another, opinions could change. IEEE Spectrum, 27 Dec. 2023 Because Donovan killed Heidi Taylor, his version of their life -- describing her as emotionally neglectful, overly strict and dismissive, even cruel -- is the dominant account described in the court battle. Adam Carlson, ABC News, 3 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'neglectful.' 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

1624, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of neglectful was in 1624

Dictionary Entries Near neglectful

Cite this Entry

“Neglectful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neglectful. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

neglectful

adjective
ne·​glect·​ful ni-ˈglek(t)-fəl How to pronounce neglectful (audio)
: given to neglecting : careless
neglectfully adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on neglectful

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