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Definition of disregardnext

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
The one constant is the absolute disregard for expertise that’s apparent in virtually every single example. Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026 The disregard for women’s sports is not a new struggle for anyone who has followed or fought for women’s sports before. Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
Ellison says that email was sent to the company's firearms compliance team, but a team member admitted to disregarding the email in a deposition. Stephen Swanson, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 Given the amount of money floating in major college athletics these days, disregard the alarmists who declare that college football is dying, or unsustainable. Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disregard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disregard
Noun
  • For most, though, the dress is business casual, matching the growing casualness of their behavior in the box over the course of long sessions.
    Andy Rose, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The key to not looking too bundled up is to add a layer that offsets the casualness of the others.
    Christina Perrier, InStyle, 30 July 2026
Verb
  • The core of this roster has been scrutinized and adored and despised for years.
    Matt Gelb, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
  • But the legendary General George Patton despised Mauldin's work.
    David Martin, CBS News, 22 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The stock that spent two years being ignored by the same investors who loaded up on Hilton and Marriott is now having its moment.
    Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Alicia McCalla, 56, a fiction writer who has been doing voice work for five years out of her home in Atlanta, decided to ignore union suggestions and clone her voice.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • None of this is irreversible, which is precisely why the CDC’s complacency is so hard to forgive.
    A.J. Russo, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Financial institutions and community partners may also provide down payment assistance programs, including opportunities that can be partially or fully forgiven over time.
    Patricia Mason, Hartford Courant, 22 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Kaepernick jolted the sports world from a state of indifference.
    Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Institutional indifference and erasure Fast forward to today, and that defensive posture has hardened into absolute institutional erasure.
    Kimmie Gordon, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Country queen and national treasure Dolly Parton may have physically left the world on Tuesday, but her indelible mark on the world and the industry will never be forgotten.
    Isabelle Farina, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The Benedict Canyon property is an important part of the novel that has already been forgotten here.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Log temples atop the mounds overlooked wide plazas for ball games, ceremonies, and open-air markets.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026
  • For a luxury upgrade, consider the One&Only Cape Town, Cape Town’s premier urban resort with a bar and lounge that directly overlooks Table Mountain.
    Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Their nonchalance about potential Social Security cuts further indicates reduced reliance on such benefits.
    John Tamny, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • There’s a Moon alert, which lightens the feelings of all your social exchanges and encourages a carefree nonchalance to everything.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 10 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Disregard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disregard. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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