neglect 1 of 2

1
as in disrepair
the state of being unattended to or not cared for for years the barn sat in neglect until one day it finally fell down

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in negligence
the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action your ongoing neglect of your health is going to land you in the hospital someday

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

neglect

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word neglect distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of neglect are disregard, forget, ignore, overlook, and slight. While all these words mean "to pass over without giving due attention," neglect implies giving insufficient attention to something that merits one's attention.

habitually neglected his studies

When could disregard be used to replace neglect?

In some situations, the words disregard and neglect are roughly equivalent. However, disregard suggests voluntary inattention.

disregarded the wishes of his family

When would forget be a good substitute for neglect?

While the synonyms forget and neglect are close in meaning, forget may suggest either a willful ignoring or a failure to impress something on one's mind.

forget what others say

When is ignore a more appropriate choice than neglect?

The words ignore and neglect are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ignore implies a failure to regard something obvious.

ignored the snide remark

When is it sensible to use overlook instead of neglect?

The synonyms overlook and neglect are sometimes interchangeable, but overlook suggests disregarding or ignoring through haste or lack of care.

in my rush I overlooked a key example

In what contexts can slight take the place of neglect?

The meanings of slight and neglect largely overlap; however, slight implies contemptuous or disdainful disregarding or omitting.

slighted several major authors in her survey

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of neglect
Noun
Those undecided poll respondents may never settle on a candidate, leading them to neglect to turn out at all. Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025 Disability Rights Arkansas offers various services, including litigation assistance and investigations into abuse and neglect at health care facilities. Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
Playing pick-and-roll with Jamal Murray, he was neglected by two Phoenix Suns defenders for just long enough that neither could recover to him by the time Murray fired him a quick pass. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 26 Oct. 2025 Year after year, more money flows into police budgets while real needs — housing and community programs — remain neglected. Bulmaro Vicente, Oc Register, 26 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for neglect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for neglect
Noun
  • The access roads were in disrepair and the shoreline was littered with household waste.
    Maria Williams, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
  • But by the 1970s, years of neglect put the hotel in a state of disrepair.
    Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Terril Johnson’s wife of more than 54 years, Linda Johnson, of Los Angeles, his son, daughter-in-law, grandson and three granddaughters are suing on claims of negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
    Julia Marnin, Sacbee.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • The complaint accused Coconut Grove Sailing Club and three counselors, including the one who operated the motorboat, of various counts of negligence.
    David Chiu, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The lawsuit alleges Parker ignored concerns raised by several teachers and staff members, including that the student may have had a gun in his possession hours before the shooting.
    Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
  • In fact, they’d merely been habituated, the way a bird learns to ignore a rhino.
    AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But will bringing back David Arquette, Neve Campbell, and other legacy actors be enough to make audiences forget about Melissa Barrera’s firing?
    Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
  • When vacuuming, don’t forget small spaces under the oven, between the counter and fridge, and areas under furniture that are likely to trap dirt.
    Kelsey Mulvey, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM, said in a blog post on Wednesday that the currency intervention has failed and predicted a 15%-30% plunge for the peso is highly likely if voters reject Milei again.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Congress failed to pass a budget or temporary funding measure before the federal fiscal year ended on October 1, forcing many federal agencies to cease all non-mandatory operations.
    Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Global failure to adapt to climate change is taking a toll on people’s lives and is responsible for millions of deaths every year, according to a new report from The Lancet.
    Simmone Shah, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Real war introduces deception, saturation attacks and human failures.
    Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Raine family’s lawyers will have to prove that OpenAI was aware of the risks posed by ChatGPT and disregarded them.
    Nikita Ostrovsky, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
  • This time, the environmental advocacy group contended that San Diego’s supplemental analysis of the visual impacts of taller buildings, prepared in advance of the 2022 ballot measure, disregarded other consequential environmental factors.
    Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Neglect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/neglect. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

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