as in inattention
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Recent Examples of inattentiveness
Attorneys representing inmates there said the facility’s culture of violence and inattentiveness led to two suicides and at least 10 severe beatings and stabbings in its final year of operation.
—
Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2026
That inattentiveness to cleaning the floor extended to the bottom shelf of a kitchen prep table and the top shelf of a prep table next to the cookline, each shelf dotted with 100 rodent droppings.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 19 Dec. 2025
Three moments from yet another winless day in the Windy City laid Pittsburgh's inattentiveness to detail bare for all to see.
—CBS News, 25 Nov. 2025
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
Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2026
That inattentiveness to cleaning the floor extended to the bottom shelf of a kitchen prep table and the top shelf of a prep table next to the cookline, each shelf dotted with 100 rodent droppings.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 19 Dec. 2025
Three moments from yet another winless day in the Windy City laid Pittsburgh's inattentiveness to detail bare for all to see.
—CBS News, 25 Nov. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inattentiveness
Noun
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In sports, mind-wandering is often seen as negative because inattention at a crucial moment can lead to disaster.—
Eric Zillmer,
The Conversation,
18 June 2026
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During a moment of inattention, an enormous wave of insane people rolled over us and buried us deep beneath them.—
Ian Frazier,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Noun
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The Link Between Hot Flashes and Memory Many women going through menopause report brain fog, forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
17 June 2026
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Symptoms can include forgetfulness, difficulty finding words and struggles with reasoning, problem solving and judgment.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
Noun
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Once, administrators confronted him about the carelessness of his grading.—
Peter Hessler,
New Yorker,
31 May 2026
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That's not chance or carelessness.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
Noun
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As for inventions, accident and inadvertence played a role in the development of Post-it Notes and microwave heating.—
Amanda Foreman,
WSJ,
4 May 2018
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The history of the game proceeded through intelligence, but also through inadvertence.—
JAY CASPIAN KANG,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2017
Noun
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Again, what is lost is inadvertency and the element of surprise — the sense that the power of the image is independent of the photographer’s plans.—
TEJU COLE,
New York Times,
18 Oct. 2016
Noun
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The video of Rodrigues de Freitas falling to her death has gone viral on social media platforms, where internet users are describing her death as a surreal case of negligence.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
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Sacramento County jail records Saturday morning showed Merritt was booked on suspicion of felony hit-and-run resulting in death or permanent serious injury, felony vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence and misdemeanor driving without a valid license.—
Michael McGough,
Sacbee.com,
13 June 2026
Noun
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Still, these outbreaks expose the shortsightedness of America’s retreat from its role as a global-health leader.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
24 May 2026
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Lower lids folded inward, placing optic nerves under duress, a literal reflection of breeder shortsightedness.—
Andrew Norman Wilson,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Feel-good party music is usually rooted in escapism, or simple obliviousness, while socially conscious art tends toward the bleak, especially these days.—
Will Lynch,
Pitchfork,
11 May 2026
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His obliviousness is what’s also somewhat endearing but also what’s grounding.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inattentiveness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inattentiveness. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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