disregard 1 of 2

Definition of disregardnext

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
Advertisement Just as Nietzsche warned of the dangers of a nihilist moral void leading to societal decay, the current disregard for responsible data practices could erode trust in institutions and perpetuate systemic inequalities. Alice Xiang, Time, 6 May 2026 The behavior quickly drew the ire of museum donors and board members for their disregard for the museum’s strict non-smoking policy and the potential risk the smoke posed to the priceless art collections, per Page Six. Alyssa Modos, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026
Verb
Judge Jeanmarie Carroll, at times, instructed jurors to disregard portions of Adams’ testimony that went beyond the scope of the questions. Michael Casey, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026 The story was told by media that took the league seriously when elsewhere it had been disregarded as a niche. Candace Buckner, New York Times, 4 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for disregard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disregard
Noun
  • The house did not have a European or East Coast seriousness, but rather a Californian dimension rooted in casualness, improvisation, and lack of pretension.
    Rem Koolhaas, Artforum, 26 Mar. 2026
  • In beach towns or summer destinations, hats and tank tops can be more about comfort than casualness, prompting some to wonder how consistently the rules can be enforced.
    Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Larysa was stuck in Belarus, a country allied with Russia that Nataliia despised and had refused to move to, despite her daughter’s many pleas.
    Lizzie Johnson, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
  • 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, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Ricketts faces four primary challengers of his own, but he's mostly ignored those rivals to put more attention towards Osborn in what could be a competitive race.
    Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 12 May 2026
  • Common laundry habits — ignoring dryer vent buildup, leaving wet clothes in the washer, using hot water on everything and skipping the washing machine gasket — can damage appliances, ruin fabrics and even create a fire risk.
    Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • After losing a child far too young, a parent might be forgiven for turning away from the world, shrinking in their grief.
    James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
  • The findings provide a backdrop to the city’s latest ask of voters to forgive roughly $2 million in small-business taxes.
    Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 7 May 2026
Noun
  • The indifference of the universe, which doesn’t care about our pain – that’s what interested me.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
  • At a southwest Fort Worth apartment complex, the dancer, Shaquoia Kelly, got out of the car and walked away with indifference 30 seconds before two accomplices moved in and one shot Lawrence Homan, homicide detectives concluded.
    Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • Oh, and who could forget how the monstrosity known as Doomsday is turned into a Jekyll and Hyde paramedic named Davis Bloome (Sam Witwer), while Zod (Callum Blue) borrows a page out of Captain Howdy's playbook by possessing Lex's body.
    Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 13 May 2026
  • In any event, he’s been forgotten.
    Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 13 May 2026
Verb
  • An Associated Press investigation into Rocha found several red flags overlooked along the way, including a warning that one longtime CIA operative received nearly two decades ago that Rocha was working as a double agent.
    JOSHUA GOODMAN, Arkansas Online, 10 May 2026
  • Mattresses While often overlooked, mattresses benefit from regular care to stay fresh.
    Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 10 May 2026
Noun
  • The former sent out an oversized black and white polka dot skirt—a wink to the retro print—styled with a textured top and gladiator sandals, while Dries Van Noten’s red and white abstract set evoked Mediterranean nonchalance.
    Minty Mellon, Vogue, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Wearing golden slippers and a modest cardigan against the snow piled high in the streets of her hometown of Leknes, the largest municipality in Lofoten, her nonchalance toward the Arctic cold switched to seriousness when discussing her work.
    Alan Crawford, Bloomberg, 20 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Disregard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disregard. Accessed 15 May. 2026.

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