disregard 1 of 2

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
Trump’s reckless disregard for the Fifth Amendment could be the spark. Megan Schrader, Denver Post, 22 June 2025 However, over time, their differing needs and disregard for each other's wishes have led to tension. Ashley Vega, People.com, 21 June 2025
Verb
As ProPublica reported, the NIH has previously terminated research grants even after a federal judge blocked such cuts, and the administration has disregarded several other rulings. Annie Waldman, ProPublica, 17 June 2025 Months later, Musk's bombastic plan to slash the bureaucracy has been blunted by a flurry of legal challenges that allege DOGE overstepped its authority, circumvented privacy laws, and disregarded protocols for shrinking the workforce. Stephen Fowler, NPR, 16 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for disregard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disregard
Verb
  • And Trump’s targeting of college campuses for being havens of antisemitism has caused a backlash from liberals who might despise that strain of hatred, but find Trump equally as loathsome.
    Philip Elliott, Time, 23 June 2025
  • Superman, due July 11, is the first feature film set in the new DCU, and arguably one of the highest-stakes movies ever made, though Gunn despises that framing.
    Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 16 June 2025
Verb
  • While Paladino’s nonsense was rightfully ignored, a letter from a member of the House majority to the AG may not be ignored, especially this AG, especially under this president.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 29 June 2025
  • Those who depend on freewheeling and shoot-from-the-hip strategies and tactics to address a crisis are ignoring or disregarding fundamental crisis management best practices that favor a calm, deliberate, and thoughtful approach.
    Edward Segal, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Verb
  • Each of their three goals was well-worked in their own way, pulling Pachuca’s shape apart with such ease that you would be forgiven for thinking Alonso’s side were the ones with the player advantage.
    Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 22 June 2025
  • But even the most committed cinephiles should forgive anyone who averts their gaze from Camp and Wilson’s disastrous misfire.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • Soliman, a 45-year-old from Egypt, is now facing two first-degree murder charges – one for extreme indifference and the other with intent and after deliberation, the district attorney’s office said.
    Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 30 June 2025
  • The first count is first-degree murder under an extreme indifference theory and the second count is first-degree murder with intent after deliberation.
    Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • Hiking and Camping Deals Don't forget to check out our guide to the Best Day-Hiking Backpacks and the Best Travel Bags.
    Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 27 June 2025
  • So does the rage that accompanies it, and the need to not just forget the past but the temptation to erase yourself from the present.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • From simply meeting expectations to overlooking key relationships, minor missteps can quietly stall your career growth.
    Alyshia Hull, USA Today, 1 July 2025
  • The rooftop bar and restaurant is the perfect place to enjoy light bites and cocktails during warmer months overlooking views of the city.
    Monica Mendal, Vogue, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • Tina, as though offended by Lilian’s nonchalance, clicked her tongue and retrieved a Band-Aid from a drawer.
    Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Other works lampoon what poets see as hypocrisy and nonchalance by the warring sides.
    Nalova Akua, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2025
Noun
  • But the other pole, blithe unconcern, carries its own dangers.
    Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 16 June 2025
  • Not ten feet away, a man moved his bowels beside a street near Union Square, while pedestrians passed him with the unconcern of people already elsewhere, émigrés to a pixelated country beyond the reach of others’ desperation.
    Andrew Kay, Harpers Magazine, 28 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Disregard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disregard. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

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