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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 Hoffman’s courage, compassion and commitment to the community will never be forgotten, Grundyson said. Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2025 But do not forget to order the beloved DK bacon maple bar. Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 17 Apr. 2025 Performances from more than 40 artists, including headliners Post Malone, Stevie Nicks and Noah Kahan, along with a variety of food and retail vendors made, for an exciting weekend guests won’t soon forget. Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 16 Apr. 2025 Confirming Logistics with Moving Service Katie Weissert, sales director at Reindeer Logistics, says many people forget to confirm moving day logistics with their relocation service. Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for forget
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forget
Verb
  • Don’t miss a glass of wine at Screwtop Wine Bar, pint of beer at The Board Room, or craft cocktail at SALT.
    Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 3 May 2025
  • 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.
    Johnny Dodd, People.com, 3 May 2025
Verb
  • The Murrow perspective allows Clooney and Heslov to ignore the actual Communist contamination of both the media and the government.
    Armond White, National Review, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Soviet citizens in the 1980s could no longer ignore the glaring differences between the utopian promises of communism and the reality of an autocratic and incompetent regime.
    Margaret MacMillan, The Atlantic, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • After all, abortions after 12 weeks are provided in clinics, so focusing only on pills and telemedicine neglects patients who are further into their pregnancies or who require a larger range of pain-management options.
    Amy Hagstrom Miller, Time, 1 May 2025
  • California’s utilities commission is neglecting its primary responsibility.
    Loretta Lynch, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Even though the measure failed in Bensenville, at least 163 communities around the state have recently enacted local grocery taxes.
    Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2025
  • That effort cost Obama's party control of the U.S. House of Representatives, while Republicans failed in their own bids to repeal the law.
    Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 4 May 2025
Verb
  • The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 May 2025
  • She was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for her performance in 2009, but lost to fellow General Hospital star Julie Berman. General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC.
    EW.com, EW.com, 10 May 2025
Verb
  • Recent citywide crime The number of offenses reported for the most recent two weeks (after omitting the most recent week of available data to control for reporting lags) compared with the number reported for the two weeks before that.
    Baltimore Sun staff, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2025
  • Russian state media has deliberately omitted U.S. President Donald Trump's criticism of its leader from its coverage, according to an independent Russian investigative outlet.
    Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Forget.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forget. Accessed 13 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on forget

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