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
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.
Director Kim Jee-woon uses every trick in the haunted-house book when spinning the tale of two vulnerable sisters, their neglectful father, and their evil stepmother, all of whom are trapped together in a shabby (but beautifully filmed) old country house. Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025 One of the tale’s bitterest ironies is that Victor will become a more demanding, more neglectful, and vastly more destructive father figure than Leopold ever was. Justin Chang, New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2025 After sharing his story online, commenters expressed sympathy for the boy’s situation, calling his father’s behavior selfish and neglectful. Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025 But his past haunts him, especially his childhood with an alcoholic, emotionally neglectful father (Stephen Graham) and loving but turbulent mother (Gaby Hoffman). Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 23 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for neglectful

Word History

First Known Use

1624, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of neglectful was in 1624

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Cite this Entry

“Neglectful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neglectful. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

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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