disregard 1 of 2

disregard

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word disregard distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of disregard are forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, and slight. While all these words mean "to pass over without giving due attention," disregard suggests voluntary inattention.

disregarded the wishes of his family

In what contexts can forget take the place of disregard?

The words forget and disregard are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, forget may suggest either a willful ignoring or a failure to impress something on one's mind.

forget what others say

When would ignore be a good substitute for disregard?

While the synonyms ignore and disregard are close in meaning, ignore implies a failure to regard something obvious.

ignored the snide remark

When is neglect a more appropriate choice than disregard?

The words neglect and disregard can be used in similar contexts, but neglect implies giving insufficient attention to something that merits one's attention.

habitually neglected his studies

Where would overlook be a reasonable alternative to disregard?

The synonyms overlook and disregard are sometimes interchangeable, but overlook suggests disregarding or ignoring through haste or lack of care.

in my rush I overlooked a key example

When might slight be a better fit than disregard?

In some situations, the words slight and disregard are roughly equivalent. However, slight implies contemptuous or disdainful disregarding or omitting.

slighted several major authors in her survey

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of disregard
Noun
Their continued refusal to release hostages or agree to a ceasefire reflects a total disregard for human life. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 29 July 2025 Such a worldview, rooted in distrust, opportunism and a disregard for the commons, legitimises grift by framing it as natural and inevitable. Dave Winsborough, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
Verb
Operating expenses for its parks were up 25.9%, too, but the adjusted EBITDA — a financial measure that looks at cash flow and disregards one-time factors — was 4.1% to the positive. Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 July 2025 So far this year, the region has reported 45 drownings, according to data from the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, underlining the real and persistent danger that comes with disregarding safety warnings along the lakes' shores. Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for disregard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disregard
Verb
  • Many people fear them, attack them, or despise them.
    Anna Tunkova, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Critics say this would come with strict reporting requirements, something dispensaries may despise and the DEA may not be ready for.
    Addy Bink, The Hill, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The rise of individuality Amid all this, another trend cannot be ignored: personalisation.
    Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
  • The scale of public mobilization and participation is difficult to ignore.
    Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Wolverhampton Wanderers supporters could be forgiven for a lack of excitement when their latest summer signing was confirmed this week.
    Steve Madeley, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
  • One could be forgiven for regarding it as a trial or even a punishment; at best a mild embarrassment, at worst a scarring disaster.
    Book Marks August 21, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The meeting between Trump and Putin is further evidence of Trump’s indifference to Putin’s aggression in Ukraine, his war crimes, and his threat to our European allies.
    Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 19 Aug. 2025
  • Both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the equal-weight S & P 500 tagged new highs this week before faltering a bit, a sign either of fatigue or late-summer indifference.
    Michael Santoli, CNBC, 16 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The budding activist wanted attendees not to forget what happened to her great-grandmother.
    LaShawn Harris August 27, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2025
  • Tuesday, August 26, 2025, is a a date Mike Danna won’t soon forget.
    Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Some entrepreneurs form a U.S. LLC with foreign business partners and overlook this filing.
    Vincenzo Villamena, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
  • Just across the hall is a door that leads out to a patio with a fire pit overlooking a lawn with tables and umbrellas interspersed among hydrangea for mingling.
    Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • There is also a cool nonchalance to the gym short, especially when juxtaposed with a smart button-up or dressier shoe.
    Christian Allaire, Vogue, 17 July 2025
  • Despite feigning nonchalance during the interrogation, his own funny story betrays his true misery.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 May 2025
Noun
  • Whatever the reason, Maxwell’s strength and the shark’s apparent unconcern put one of Maxwell’s friends in danger.
    Donald Millus, Outdoor Life, 3 July 2025
  • But the other pole, blithe unconcern, carries its own dangers.
    Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 16 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Disregard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disregard. Accessed 31 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on disregard

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