as in forgetful
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Dissimilar Words
as in ignoring
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in missing
to be unable to recall or think of
I forget exactly on which street that the house is
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in neglecting
to fail to give proper attention to
she promised not to forget her high school friends after she went off to college
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in shirking
to leave undone or unattended to especially through carelessness
he forgot the pot boiling on the stove
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in failing
to miss the opportunity or obligation
I forgot to call on his birthday
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of forgetting
Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
For example, in learning contexts, adaptive forgetting, or the ability to let go of irrelevant information, can actually improve cognitive performance overall.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
This comes at a time of wider forgetting.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
In an age of fast fading and faster forgetting, that message - stitched into every uneven hem - remains radical.
—Maria Williams, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
In this arrangement, even if one learner suffers from catastrophic forgetting, the cognitive radio can still function.
—Sven Bilén, IEEE Spectrum, 23 July 2020
Anja Webb, Parents, 25 Feb. 2026
After forgetting her prepared remarks in her seat and finding her bearings, Buckley delivered one of the night’s best speeches.
—Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Experiments have shown that mice show a similar pattern of forgetting.
—Veronique Greenwood, Time, 23 Feb. 2026
This Maison de Sabré bag charm also solves the problem of forgetting your AirTag at home, while adding a bit of style to your suitcase.
—Liz Provencher, Travel + Leisure, 22 Feb. 2026
Not by feeling ashamed, but not by ignoring or forgetting the history either.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 12 Feb. 2026
Wednesday was all about looking forward, rediscovering comfort — not forgetting the offseason but beginning anew nonetheless.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 5 Feb. 2026
The singer had been tasked with announcing the penultimate winner of the night after accepting her Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy, and had already been flustered by initially forgetting to do so and having to be called back by six-time host Trevor Noah.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Feb. 2026
When Cher created some memorable live-TV chaos by forgetting to present Record of the Year at the 68th annual Grammy Awards Sunday night, executive producer Ben Winston immediately spoke into host Trevor Noah‘s earpiece.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 2 Feb. 2026
Noun
His quest to reclaim the power of writing becomes an inner journey between memory and forgetting, between a lost language and a new one, where human, emotion and meaning must be recreated anew.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
For example, in learning contexts, adaptive forgetting, or the ability to let go of irrelevant information, can actually improve cognitive performance overall.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
This comes at a time of wider forgetting.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
In an age of fast fading and faster forgetting, that message - stitched into every uneven hem - remains radical.
—Maria Williams, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
In this arrangement, even if one learner suffers from catastrophic forgetting, the cognitive radio can still function.
—Sven Bilén, IEEE Spectrum, 23 July 2020
Verb
From mess-free art projects to brainteasers to travel building sets, your kids will be forgetting all about their tablets.
—Anja Webb, Parents, 25 Feb. 2026
After forgetting her prepared remarks in her seat and finding her bearings, Buckley delivered one of the night’s best speeches.
—Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Experiments have shown that mice show a similar pattern of forgetting.
—Veronique Greenwood, Time, 23 Feb. 2026
This Maison de Sabré bag charm also solves the problem of forgetting your AirTag at home, while adding a bit of style to your suitcase.
—Liz Provencher, Travel + Leisure, 22 Feb. 2026
Not by feeling ashamed, but not by ignoring or forgetting the history either.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 12 Feb. 2026
Wednesday was all about looking forward, rediscovering comfort — not forgetting the offseason but beginning anew nonetheless.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 5 Feb. 2026
The singer had been tasked with announcing the penultimate winner of the night after accepting her Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy, and had already been flustered by initially forgetting to do so and having to be called back by six-time host Trevor Noah.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Feb. 2026
When Cher created some memorable live-TV chaos by forgetting to present Record of the Year at the 68th annual Grammy Awards Sunday night, executive producer Ben Winston immediately spoke into host Trevor Noah‘s earpiece.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 2 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forgetting
Adjective
-
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
Verb
-
California search-and-rescue teams have recovered the bodies of all nine missing skiers killed Tuesday in a devastating avalanche in a remote region of Sierra Nevada north of Lake Tahoe.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
-
The Nets opened with a level of engagement missing a night earlier.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Things that used to feel so urgent and non-negotiable (being disciplined, heeding early alarms, ignoring my body’s cues) now have a patina over them.—
Dimity McDowell,
Time,
24 Feb. 2026
-
This skeptical energy plays under the surface of the novel (Hjorth’s funniest) as Johanna begins to surveil her mother, ignoring her sister’s perfectly reasonable requests to leave her in peace.—
Elaine Blair,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Overlooking the Sacré-Coeur and the Eiffel Tower, the apartment was completely redesigned without neglecting its period references, thanks to a special attention to detail.—
Nicolas Milon,
Architectural Digest,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The cost of neglecting to lead will not be measured in headlines today.—
Richard Hughes IV,
STAT,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Israel’s government has repeatedly criticized its counterpart in Australia for failing to address antisemitic attacks in the country.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The prosecution detailed nine separate errors made by Plamberger during the climb—from failing to bring bivy gear to failing to abide by a reasonable turnaround time—which collectively suggest a charge of gross negligence.—
Owen Clarke,
Outside,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Many Americans are unaware that tipping is a legacy of slavery.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Gladden is unaware that the entire case is fake, everyone except him is an actor, and everything that happens — inside the courtroom and out — is carefully planned.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But hazards hover both in the turning weather, a threat in particular to Flor’s severe asthma, and in Junior’s work environment, where he’s treated with racist disregard by his co-workers, while locals incensed by the company’s violation of the forest make vengeful overtures.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
22 Feb. 2026
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Hundreds of Buddhist monks rallied in the capital of Sri Lanka on Friday to protest alleged government disrespect of their religion and disregard for a long-standing tradition that they be consulted in matters of state.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Because of that, most of the men and women who are losing their lives on the front lines are married with children – and Ukraine is becoming a country of widows and orphans.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Without losing its boutique intimacy, the Junior Suites and Miramar Suites offer more breathing room, many with separate living areas and kitchenettes that make longer stays feel seamless.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forgetting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forgetting. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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