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as in to neglect
to leave undone or unattended to especially through carelessness he forgot the pot boiling on the stove

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word forget distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of forget are disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook, and slight. While all these words mean "to pass over without giving due attention," forget may suggest either a willful ignoring or a failure to impress something on one's mind.

forget what others say

When can disregard be used instead of forget?

While in some cases nearly identical to forget, disregard suggests voluntary inattention.

disregarded the wishes of his family

When could ignore be used to replace forget?

The words ignore and forget can be used in similar contexts, but ignore implies a failure to regard something obvious.

ignored the snide remark

When might neglect be a better fit than forget?

In some situations, the words neglect and forget are roughly equivalent. However, neglect implies giving insufficient attention to something that merits one's attention.

habitually neglected his studies

When would overlook be a good substitute for forget?

Although the words overlook and forget have much in common, overlook suggests disregarding or ignoring through haste or lack of care.

in my rush I overlooked a key example

Where would slight be a reasonable alternative to forget?

The synonyms slight and forget are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 forget Don’t forget, our Federal Reserve is not at all a part of our Constitution. Jason Ma, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2025 So go ahead and snap pics of those treats when they’re finished, but don’t forget the messy moments that got you there. Elizabeth Broadbent, Miami Herald, 1 Aug. 2025 People sometimes forget that being a legendary vocalist means more than just hitting the right notes. Mars Salazar, Austin American Statesman, 23 July 2025 If your grass fails the tug test and is deemed completely dead, save your water and try your best to forget about your lawn until late summer or early fall. Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 22 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for forget
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forget
Verb
  • Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
    Nicholas Rice, People.com, 27 July 2025
  • The Milwaukee Police Department has requested public assistance in their efforts to locate Andrew K. Addae, a critically missing 54-year-old man.
    Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 27 July 2025
Verb
  • Nancy, Natascha, and Leslie all hoped to get Gary's rose, but in the end, the sparks between him and Leslie burned too bright to be ignored.
    Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 5 Aug. 2025
  • That's exactly what Texas Democrats did today: blowing up Republicans' sham special session that's virtually ignored the plight of flood victims in Kerr County.
    Peter Aitken Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Absolutely no trip to Bradenton should neglect some time strolling on the Bradenton Riverwalk.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 26 July 2025
  • For decades, residents in the eastern part of Dearborn have felt marginalized by City Hall, saying their neighborhoods have been neglected by officials.
    Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 26 July 2025
Verb
  • In 2022, Lenn Catley's heart began to fail because of amyloidosis, a buildup of proteins from his liver that attacked his heart.
    Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
  • The program tried to learn from every hand — even the bad hands that were doomed to fail — and ended up making mostly random moves.
    Andrew Montequin, jsonline.com, 29 July 2025
Verb
  • In other words, about one in five Detroit voters will make crucial decisions about who will serve as Detroit's next mayor, who'll fill two open seats on the Detroit City Council, and which councilmembers will keep ― or lose ― their seats.
    Nancy Kaffer, Freep.com, 2 Aug. 2025
  • Some Pentagon officials, however, acknowledge that the tradeoff for speed and expense is losing the armor that saved lives and limbs in Iraq and Afghanistan.
    Tom Vanden Brook, USA Today, 2 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • This sets up the witness to later provide more particulars at trial without fear of the defense cross-examining the witness for omitting facts to the grand jury.
    Nick Akerman, New York Daily News, 24 July 2025
  • The Trump administration’s AI plan omits the role of U.S. immigration policy in providing American companies access to talent in cutting-edge fields.
    Stuart Anderson, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Forget.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forget. Accessed 8 Aug. 2025.

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