as in negligence
failure to carefully think about, listen to, or watch someone or something
Many traffic accidents are the result of driver inattention. They lost several potential clients through their inattention to detail.
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Recent Examples of inattention
In 2021, Yesha Yadav, of Vanderbilt Law School, identified structural fragilities in the market, caused by simple cavalier inattention: Why bother scrutinizing the safest thing out there?
—
Mary Childs, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
Stay vigilant Nearly a quarter of all reported boating accidents last year were caused by operator inattention or improper lookout.
—Katie Nixon, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
There may be benefits in addressing some symptoms, like inattention or emotional control, but not in impulsivity or other behaviors.
—Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 23 June 2025
The dye has been linked to behavioral problems in children, including inattention and hyperactivity.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 16 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inattention
Mary Childs, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
Stay vigilant Nearly a quarter of all reported boating accidents last year were caused by operator inattention or improper lookout.
—Katie Nixon, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
There may be benefits in addressing some symptoms, like inattention or emotional control, but not in impulsivity or other behaviors.
—Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 23 June 2025
The dye has been linked to behavioral problems in children, including inattention and hyperactivity.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 16 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inattention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inattention
Noun
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Non-Orientable Nkansa, 2017, one of his earliest large-scale installations, announced his dedication to monumental assemblages that fixate on negligence and crumbling edifices.—
Edna Bonhomme,
Artforum,
1 Oct. 2025
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The Hardimans are seeking damages over the collision, alleging that Campbell drove through a red light and that his negligence caused the crash.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
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At other times, the result can be both immediate and devastating, as seen in many traffic accidents caused by impatience, inattentiveness, or rashness.—
Mary Crossan,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inattention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inattention. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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