Definition of forgetnext
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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 Such shows tend to require a longer production schedule (yet Thrones, many forget, managed to regularly churn out a new season annually until its seventh-and-final season, which took two years). James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 27 May 2026 From the perspective of 2026, Thelma & Louise represents, with its mixture of thematic daring and commercial viability, an alchemy our mainstream movie industry seems to have since largely forgotten. Alison Willmore, Vulture, 27 May 2026 From scandals, to corny tactics and platforms, to terrible analysis, this gubernatorial race has been a contest to forget. Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 27 May 2026 Don’t forget, class, that some picks won’t be able to be protected. Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for forget
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forget
Verb
  • The mother of the other suspect, Clark, reported to police the morning of the shooting that guns had gone missing from her home.
    Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2026
  • After a clean first inning with two strikeouts, Lauer missed down the middle with a fastball to Hunter Goodman, who hit it out for the 12th homer Lauer has given up this season.
    Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
Verb
  • Their son still visits but ignores the family’s special days.
    Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 26 May 2026
  • Stifel upgrades Booz Allen Hamilton to buy from hold Stifel said the stock too attractive to ignore.
    Michael Bloom, CNBC, 26 May 2026
Verb
  • Keep the peace without neglecting yourself.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 25 May 2026
  • All season, the teenagers on The Audacity have been set up as troubled, neglected afterthoughts to their parents’ indulgences and machinations, and the show finally pulls the trigger on Chekhov’s gun.
    Scott Tobias, Vulture, 24 May 2026
Verb
  • However, the anticipated state finals clash was not to be as Calabasas dropped the baton in the Southern Section finals and failed to advance.
    Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
  • It has been cited seven times by the AQMD since 2012 for such things as failing to report breakdowns and failing to maintain a system that measures and records temperatures.
    Jason Henry, Oc Register, 30 May 2026
Verb
  • After the particularly disturbing Game 3 loss, when the Avs lost for only the second time in 76 playoff games when leading by three goals, Colorado resorted to whimpering.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 27 May 2026
  • The Red Sox lost their fourth straight game on Tuesday, falling 7-6 to the Atlanta Braves thanks in large part to a pair of two-run home runs by Matt Olson and Michael Harris II.
    Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 27 May 2026
Verb
  • Jarrod Bowen, who was omitted from England’s 26-man World Cup squad, was appointed captain by former manager Julen Lopetegui in August 2024.
    Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 28 May 2026
  • At first, Iwamasa had lied to police, omitting ketamine from the list of medications Perry was using, and saying nothing about his injections.
    Andrew Dalton, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Forget.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forget. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.

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