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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 Many individuals said that wedding guests often forget to take home wedding favors anyway, so if the soaps are placed in a basket or on tables then they may be naturally left at the celebration. Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 14 Aug. 2025 But in spite of the underwhelming box office, the Thunderbolts (or New Avengers) haven't been forgotten by Disney or Kevin Feige. Michileen Martin, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025 My strengths are my vision for the city, my goals to cast a light on those not seen or heard and bring those forgotten into the future with Charlotte. Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 14 Aug. 2025 And who wants an inefficient clean? While floors need cleaning frequently, don’t forget about other areas of your home that could use a good cleaning. Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 3 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for forget
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forget
Verb
  • The younger Chávez has battled drug addiction for much of his boxing career, failing drug tests, serving suspensions and egregiously missing weight while being widely criticized for his intermittent dedication to the sport.
    Fabiola Sanchez, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 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.
    Charna Flam, People.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • This isn’t about weakening rights or ignoring the role of guns.
    For the Carroll County Times, Baltimore Sun, 16 Aug. 2025
  • Or Joe Biden when Putin ignored his warnings and invaded Ukraine in 2022.
    Susan Page, USA Today, 16 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • These challenges must be addressed, but an approach to trade that neglects allies is unlikely to succeed.
    Wally Adeyemo, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
  • Here are five things people in the happiest relationships talk to each other about every day — that most people neglect.
    Mark Travers, CNBC, 17 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Lawyers for Idaho’s longest-serving death row prisoner are renewing their efforts to spare him from execution after the state failed last year to put him to death by lethal injection.
    Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 22 Aug. 2025
  • The argument has strengthened that disasters, even natural ones, are manmade if society fails to prevent them, and this view has been championed through campaigns such as #NoNaturalDisasters.
    Chloe Demrovsky, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 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, 14 Aug. 2025
  • If the Sojourner Truth museum is forced to shut down, a host of youth engagement programs could also be lost.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The number of offenses reported so far this year (after omitting the most recent week of available data to control for reporting lags) and the percentage change over the same point last year.
    Baltimore Sun staff, Baltimore Sun, 11 Aug. 2025
  • The Portage Plan Commission drew the line on adding a 154th lot to the Sandy Trails subdivision, rejecting the developer’s argument that the lot was omitted from the final plat previously approved after an engineer forgot to draw a line to include the lot.
    Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Forget.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forget. Accessed 29 Aug. 2025.

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