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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 Considering Donald Trump’s many outrages, his theatrically hostile reception of Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of South Africa, in the Oval Office on Wednesday may soon be forgotten. Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 22 May 2025 And if your child shows signs of distress, don't forget to check in with them later. Melissa Willets, Parents, 22 May 2025 Somehow, fans forgot to include Christy Mathewson, Stan Musial and Honus Wagner. Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 22 May 2025 Don’t forget to take advantage of the signature St. Regis butler service, which will promptly fulfill requests for packing needs, garment pressing, restaurant reservations and a cup of steaming chamomile tea to unwind after a long flight. Natasha Amar, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for forget
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forget
Verb
  • Both teams had their first two penalties saved, before Steaua eventually got themselves together to score two… which was enough because Barca missed all four of theirs.
    Nick Miller, New York Times, 28 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.
    Kirsten Acuna, People.com, 28 May 2025
Verb
  • Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year.
    Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 24 May 2025
  • In some cases, the older feline will always ignore and live a separate life to the newer kitten.
    Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • Window treatments appear in nearly every room in the house, but the kitchen has long been neglected, thanks to airflow needs and cooking residue.
    Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 May 2025
  • However, because of its small flowers, Calibrachoa was long neglected by plant breeders in favor of the petunia with its larger blooms.
    Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • The State Department reportedly justified its decision by accusing the school of repeatedly failing to combat antisemitism on campus.
    Jackson Walker, Baltimore Sun, 30 May 2025
  • CEOs who fail to integrate cybersecurity into their core business strategies risk not only breaches but also reputational damage, revenue loss and stifled innovation.
    Francis Dinha, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • The University of San Diego and San Diego State both lost Thursday to drop into the losers’ brackets of their respective double-elimination conference baseball tournaments.
    Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2025
  • The submersible's mother ship, the MV Polar Prince, lost contact with the Titan just over an hour and a half into its descent, and a field of debris later identified as the remnants of the imploded sub was discovered four days later.
    Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • Vance’s account of this dispute conveniently inflates the evidence of Abrego Garcia’s alleged membership in the MS-13 gang and omits the U.S. government’s responsibility for returning him to El Salvador.
    Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 25 May 2025
  • Some Leaders Have Started Eliminating The Pre-Meeting Chit-Chat Executives now use a direct communication approach, which omits all small talk.
    Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Forget.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forget. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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