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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
But even taken at face value, many appear upset at the disregard of rest. Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 23 July 2026 Members of the movement share an extremist political ideology that justifies (in their view) unlawful activities or at least the intentional disregard of federal laws. Jordana Rosenfeld, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 July 2026
Verb
Despite public pressure, ICE continues to instruct its private contractors to disregard state laws in its latest procurement documents. Philip Wang, Time, 4 Aug. 2026 In doing so, those members disregarded the professional recommendations and warnings of the superintendent, the chief financial officer, the finance team and the district’s chief legal counsel. Angel Gutierrez, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disregard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disregard
Noun
  • 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
  • Now my mother and I sometimes talk about Hương; never directly, but with a casualness that, too, seems like a gift.
    Thao Thai, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026
Verb
  • Most of the refugees from the region fended for themselves in shanty towns around Baku, despised by the urbanites even as their plight was weaponized.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 July 2026
  • This movie proved to be a huge hit, raking in over $230 million worldwide even though most critics despised it.
    Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 24 July 2026
Verb
  • And while in some cases online classes can’t be ignored, the preference is that players attend in the classroom.
    Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The Republican Party has ignored the national debt every time Republican presidents have signed bills that have cut taxes on the wealthy.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Between house prices, the cost of living, and the threat AI poses to the labor market, Gen Z could be forgiven for giving up on the American Dream.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Debt can also be discharged under circumstances such as bankruptcy and certain legal proceedings, although those aren't the same as a creditor voluntarily deciding to forgive an account.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Data center projects have been shrouded in secrecy and marked by breathtaking indifference to residents’ concerns.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
  • There, her stern Granny and poised Aunt Helen (Genevieve O’Reilly) are horrified by her lack of refinement and her indifference about finding a respectable husband.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Bret complains about how quickly the school forgets Matt Kellner following his disappearance, but The Shards appears equally unmoved by him.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
  • All your zillennial and millennial friends, now adults with car insurance and vigorous SPF routines, have been watching cozy, faintly dissociative teen dramas in order to forget their troubles.
    Daisy Jones, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Cox, whose home overlooks the scenic drive, said she's seen several violent crashes along the road.
    Laurie Perez, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Organizations frequently chase transformation through sweeping initiatives while overlooking subtle changes that disrupt habitual thinking.
    Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • Spain’s talisman was Lamine Yamal, its nineteen-year-old right winger, who plays the game with bleached tips, implausible speed, and nonchalance, but its superego was Rodri, the team’s central midfielder and captain.
    Sam Knight, New Yorker, 20 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Disregard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disregard. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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