as in preoccupied
inclined to forget what one has learned or to do what one should
we become more forgetful as we get older
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 forgetful
In Plato’s Phaedrus, Socrates worries that books, unlike oral traditions, will make people more forgetful.
—
Tim Brinkhof, Big Think, 3 Mar. 2026
Lucky for the forgetful reader who checked out the book, the library got rid of overdue fines in 2021, so they won’t be charged a dime.
—Saul Pink, San Antonio Express-News, 8 Feb. 2026
In those early scenes of Home Alone, O’Hara is not just an avatar for a forgetful, imperfect mother.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
The company designed the ring not for the peace of mind of forgetful people like me but because, Oura says, one in 10 users have already bought a spare charger, perhaps so there’s always one your desk at work, for instance.
—David Phelan, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forgetful
Tim Brinkhof, Big Think, 3 Mar. 2026
Lucky for the forgetful reader who checked out the book, the library got rid of overdue fines in 2021, so they won’t be charged a dime.
—Saul Pink, San Antonio Express-News, 8 Feb. 2026
In those early scenes of Home Alone, O’Hara is not just an avatar for a forgetful, imperfect mother.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
The company designed the ring not for the peace of mind of forgetful people like me but because, Oura says, one in 10 users have already bought a spare charger, perhaps so there’s always one your desk at work, for instance.
—David Phelan, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forgetful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forgetful
Adjective
-
The property, which sits on three and a half acres in Wilton, Connecticut, had been owned for more than five decades by the president of a regional hosta society who was mostly preoccupied with the landscaping.—
Wendy Goodman,
Curbed,
16 May 2026
-
Sometimes someone’s sullen or preoccupied or way too wound up.—
Risa Polansky Shiman,
Sun Sentinel,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
Indeed, Mary Hartman was a confused—and confusing—protagonist for a country in the midst of second-wave feminism.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
Lawsuits have been filed in response and some, including Cassidy and Fleming, warn the move is leaving voters confused.—
Gaby Vinick,
ABC News,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
There’s something winningly absent-minded about Gosling’s performance here.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
20 Mar. 2026
-
The show offered her five more episodes—her rent for the year—and the absent-minded waitress became a recurring character named Ursula.—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Davis has either tuned out or somehow remained oblivious to any fan sentiment that diminishes the magnitude of his home run because of what unfolded after it.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
About to hit rock bottom, Peter is therefore oblivious to the +44 numbers that are blowing up his phone, until the caller — a British clubber called Edison (the fantastic Kirby Howell-Baptiste) — arrives on his doorstep.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
Everyone was so relieved to see how bewildered everyone else was that the feeling in this place was almost festive.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Numerous cryptocurrency novices become bewildered by intricate decals and fluctuating percentages.—
Malana VanTyler,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forgetful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forgetful. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
