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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

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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 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 People forget this, but Duke had already won Game 1 of that Super Regional. Mitch Light, New York Times, 16 June 2025 Creating Emotionally Safer Experiences AI is quietly reshaping CX by learning when not to personalize, strategically forgetting past interactions to avoid user fatigue or creepiness. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025 Don’t forget binoculars Binoculars are graded by two sets of numbers, such as 8×30, explained Chris Harbard, the president of the Southwest Wings birding festival in Sierra Vista, Ariz. who has worked as a birding expert for Silversea Cruises. The New York Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for forget
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forget
Verb
  • Eliza felt her body becoming alive for the first time, coursing through with a vitality of pure sensation that had been missing for her entire teenage existence.
    Siouxzi Connor June 20, Literary Hub, 20 June 2025
  • That however means that monitoring any LLM answers miss the point.
    Lutz Finger, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • Despite weeks of calling for a ceasefire in Ukraine, Trump has been ignored by Putin, who continues his aggression.
    Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 17 June 2025
  • If another catastrophe were to occur—especially one brought on by ignoring the essential stepping stone of the moon—the backlash could be far more severe.
    Avery Padraic Kerrigan, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2025
Verb
  • Precisely understanding the audience that is in a store is becoming essential, but something retailers often neglect.
    Kevin Rozario, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
  • The holiday underscores the necessity of vigilance in protecting civil liberties against the constant risk of erosion through political compromise or neglect.
    Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • Phoenix was unable to propel itself back to the NBA Finals, losing in the Western Conference semifinals during the 2022-23 season, being ousted in the first round in the 2023-24 season and failing to even make the postseason this year.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2025
  • The decline accelerated after reports indicated that Iran’s first attempt to retaliate by lobbing missiles toward a U.S. base in Qatar failed to cause any casualties.
    Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • The Sox are on pace to lose 110 games and own the second-worst 81-game start (26-55) in franchise history.
    Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2025
  • The New Zealand team Auckland City began the Club World Cup as the tournament’s fall guys, losing 10-0 against the German champions Bayern Munich, but by the end of the group stage, the semi-professional outfit earned respect by holding Boca Juniors to a draw.
    Adam Crafton, New York Times, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • The fraud charge that immigration officials later added accuses Khalil of purposely omitting details on his green card application about his work history and involvement with certain organizations, including a U.N. agency that helps Palestinians.
    Adrian Florido, NPR, 13 June 2025
  • Some trustees provided incomplete records, with group chats missing messages or with dates, times and senders for some messages omitted.
    Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Forget.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forget. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

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