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 Engineers mustn’t forget their responsibility in creating responsible and ethical AI. Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 29 Apr. 2026 Who could forget that instant classic? Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026 Don’t forget that the room has both sides, red and blue, and everyone in between. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026 And don't forget to follow Allure on Instagram and TikTok—or subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on all things beauty. Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for forget
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forget
Verb
  • If catchers, pitchers, or hitters believed an umpire missed a call, they were suddenly allowed to challenge it.
    Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
  • The one big missing piece was seeing her team finally capture an elusive state championship.
    Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The federal judge in that case ruled that a jury could find that State Farm had acted in bad faith if the plaintiffs' lawyers demonstrated that the company ignored certain kinds of hail damage.
    Michael Copley, NPR, 28 Apr. 2026
  • In crush, puncture, and saw tests, the battery produced no smoke or flames – a safety profile that's hard to ignore.
    Omar Kardoudi April 28, New Atlas, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Abused, neglected, abandoned pigs At Willeyville Farm, Houk and, Jones-Willey and other volunteers were recently caring for about 40 pigs, with the goal of finding them adoptive homes.
    Eric Adler April 26, Kansas City Star, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Shultz felt that neglecting those relationships, like neglecting one’s garden, will grow weeds.
    Tom Jurkowsky, Baltimore Sun, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • If Campbell fails, then speculation can fairly begin.
    Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Just to recap, Dach had the puck in overtime in the neutral zone but failed to gain the red line before flipping the puck down the ice to get a change, being forced to stay on the ice when that puck crossed the Lightning goal line for an icing.
    Arpon Basu, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Educators were fired for making insensitive comments about him on their personal social-media accounts; a firefighter in Toledo lost his job for posting a derisive eulogy on Facebook; various airline employees were suspended for disparaging Kirk online.
    Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Gray added that both players agreed to lose the game in exchange for $10,000 to $15,000 in payments each.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Biddle had simplified his History, omitting most of Lewis’s science.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Standing in the gap for the guys who omit the pomp and circumstance and opt for sentimental, simple and heartfelt proposals was Chris Pratt's Fletcher Flemson from 2009's Bride Wars.
    Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Forget.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forget. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.

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