1
2
3
as in to neglect
to leave undone or unattended to especially through carelessness he forgot the pot boiling on the stove

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4

Synonym Chooser

How is the word forget distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of forget are disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook, and slight. While all these words mean "to pass over without giving due attention," forget may suggest either a willful ignoring or a failure to impress something on one's mind.

forget what others say

When can disregard be used instead of forget?

While in some cases nearly identical to forget, disregard suggests voluntary inattention.

disregarded the wishes of his family

When could ignore be used to replace forget?

The words ignore and forget can be used in similar contexts, but ignore implies a failure to regard something obvious.

ignored the snide remark

When might neglect be a better fit than forget?

In some situations, the words neglect and forget are roughly equivalent. However, neglect implies giving insufficient attention to something that merits one's attention.

habitually neglected his studies

When would overlook be a good substitute for forget?

Although the words overlook and forget have much in common, overlook suggests disregarding or ignoring through haste or lack of care.

in my rush I overlooked a key example

Where would slight be a reasonable alternative to forget?

The synonyms slight and forget are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 forget Pro tip: Don't forget to save the bones for homemade stock. Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 10 May 2025 Don't forget to check out yesterday's Best Laptop Deal of the Day for May 5. Jade Chung-Lee, PC Magazine, 10 May 2025 Get your pre-orders in now and don’t forget to use promo code PEOPLE25 to knock $25 off at checkout. Clint Davis, People.com, 9 May 2025 It should not be forgotten either that Spurs came here facing the latest episode in their injury permacrisis that has blighted their season. Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 9 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for forget
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forget
Verb
  • Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
    Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 16 May 2025
  • Fill-in moderator Joy Behar took over for Goldberg on Wednesday's telecast, which Goldberg missed due to her sickness.
    Joey Nolfi Published, EW.com, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • Extract every valuable insight from feedback others would ignore.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
  • When Jackson walked off the pitch and down the tunnel, Chelsea’s head coach appeared deliberately to ignore him.
    Simon Johnson, New York Times, 12 May 2025
Verb
  • The new permit contains more lax regulations, neglects to address more than 20 toxic chemicals and concerns about forever chemicals, Vallee said in a statement.
    Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025
  • While some clients may issue a 1099 to a contractor, it’s not required in all situations, and some neglect to do so.
    Vlad Rusz, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • Earlier this year, after failing to meet its own October deadline for the rebate’s relaunch, the government passed a measure allowing producers to claim expenses accrued in the final months of 2024 and the start of 2025.
    Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 18 May 2025
  • Over the years, he’s placed a total of 48 tracks somewhere on the list, meaning nearly all of them have become top 10 smashes, with only a handful failing to rise into that uppermost region.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
Verb
  • The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 May 2025
  • Bernie Madoff Bernie Madoff, infamous for the largest Ponzi scheme in U.S. history, lost a personal net worth estimated at $823-$826 million before his 2008 downfall.
    Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
Verb
  • Several of the groups also expressed frustration that the budget plan omitted their demands for legislation to slash new regulations covering the sale of AR-style pistols equipped with braces to help the handicapped steady shots at the range.
    Paul Bedard, The Washington Examiner, 13 May 2025
  • New York and Washington, D.C.’s TRACONs were also omitted from the list.
    Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 5 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Forget.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forget. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on forget

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!