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

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
The exploitation of the American people and the blatant disregard for our well-being has reached unprecedented levels. Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026 Cronin, the plaintiff’s attorney, said in an interview that Abbott showed disregard for the health and safety of premature babies participating in the AL16 clinical trial. David Hilzenrath, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
This idea that software and software-as-a-service can be disregarded in the age of AI is quite nonsensical. Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026 Other contributing factors included disregarding traffic signals, improper lane usage, following other vehicles too closely and distracted driving. Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 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
  • Larson’s son Lane, then 9, had grown up loving the Bulldogs and despising their rivals, and made his feelings clear.
    Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Though Brigitta despises him, Maria shelters him.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Roughly 2 in 10 did not have time to make an appointment, had felt ignored or dismissed by a provider in the past or were too embarrassed to talk to a person.
    ABC News, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Too seldom is the collective good even an afterthought, E Pluribus Unum a motto untranslated and ignored.
    Rabbi Dan Levin, Sun Sentinel, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • For now, at least, the audience seems forgiving, which lets Jomboy try new things.
    Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
  • You’d be forgiven for getting the impression that Apple and Netflix were at odds somehow upon seeing the reports that Netflix has switched the content-player screen on its Apple TV app back to its own design instead of the native Apple player.
    Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • This moment was a turning point for him — despite his past indifference toward settling down, fatherhood changed him completely.
    Jane LaCroix, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Would a cyberattack that kills people finally shake us out of our indifference?
    Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Perhaps pitchers and umpires are simply adjusting to the new technology, and by midsummer any early kinks will be forgotten.
    Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
  • For the best-tasting sandwich, be sure to line both sides of the bun with mayonnaise, and don’t forget a crunchy, cool layer of thick-cut pickles.
    Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • What tends to be overlooked, in the aesthetic shock, is Proust’s elaborate hymn to its moral and spiritual implications.
    Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Set on a bluff overlooking the Pacific, this sprawling 30-acre resort has 263 rooms with gorgeous oceanfront views and generously sized soaking tubs.
    Acacia Gabriel, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Among many Niger Deltans, there’s a mixture of ignorance, nonchalance, and clenched resignation around the industry’s environmental dangers, which take a back seat as folks get on with the business of everyday survival.
    Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
  • As Hüller approaches her father at the keyboard, her anger manifests as a kind of bored nonchalance.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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