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
Sometimes latency isn’t about inattention but about internal overwhelm.
—
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
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
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
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
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
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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The district attorney's office is now pursuing two lesser charges against him — vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and child abuse/endangerment under circumstances or conditions likely to cause GBI or death — per the district attorney's news release.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
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Why timing matters Industry data shows that most coverage lapses occur not because of negligence but because of short-term cash shortages.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 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 29 Oct. 2025.
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