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
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
The escalating price of this inattention to quality will cause the second prediction (below).
—Steve Tengler, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for inattention
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
The escalating price of this inattention to quality will cause the second prediction (below).
—Steve Tengler, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for inattention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inattention
Noun
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Poor hiring decisions since late 2021 have created and compounded an environment of incompetence and negligence as well as a toxic culture that has driven away valuable staff, volunteers and rescue partners.—
Michael Wagner,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
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The civil suit alleges McNutt's civil rights were violated and cites negligence on behalf of the city, Milwaukee Police Department officer Seng Xiong and former officer Lauren Marowsky, and Justin Ellis, the driver in the car fleeing police.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
16 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 18 Sep. 2025.
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