as in neglectful
failing to give proper care and attention
our chronically neglecting custodian has let trash accumulate around the warehouse
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in ignoring
to fail to give proper attention to
as usual the news media neglected the real issues of the campaign and focused on personalities
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in forgetting
to leave undone or unattended to especially through carelessness
I've neglected my garden, and now it's overgrown with weeds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in failing
to miss the opportunity or obligation
conveniently, the job applicant neglected to mention his criminal record
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of neglecting
Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 3 Feb. 2026
Prioritize your private life without neglecting a professional responsibility under today’s Leo full moon.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
Increasingly, schools in California excessively coddle students by neglecting to impose penalties for late work, eliminating the possibility for a failing grade, and unlimited opportunities to redo exams and assignments.
—Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 31 Jan. 2026
Prioritize essentials and write a friendly message about timing, trusting your careful planning to coordinate everyone’s efforts without neglecting your peace.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 30 Jan. 2026
In Emotional Intelligence, Goleman argues that neglecting to teach EQ has carried a cost.
—Jasna Hodžić, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
On Monday, prosecutors charged her with a felony count of child abuse for allegedly ripping out the teenager’s hair, and a misdemeanor count of child endangerment for allegedly neglecting the 3-year-old’s safety.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026
Her father, Will (Harmon Walsh), has focused on promoting and supporting the ice skating prospects of Adriana’s older sister, Elise (Alexandra Beaton), while neglecting rising bills, maintenance costs, and declining attendance—creating the conditions that threaten the rink’s future.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 22 Jan. 2026
Warning signs include difficulty cutting back despite wanting to, drinking more or longer than intended, spending a lot of time thinking about alcohol, neglecting responsibilities, or experiencing physical symptoms such as shaking, sweating, nausea or anxiety when not drinking.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
Verb
Choosing the wrong pieces, or neglecting them over time, can make your porch look dated.
—Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 3 Feb. 2026
Prioritize your private life without neglecting a professional responsibility under today’s Leo full moon.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
Increasingly, schools in California excessively coddle students by neglecting to impose penalties for late work, eliminating the possibility for a failing grade, and unlimited opportunities to redo exams and assignments.
—Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 31 Jan. 2026
Prioritize essentials and write a friendly message about timing, trusting your careful planning to coordinate everyone’s efforts without neglecting your peace.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 30 Jan. 2026
In Emotional Intelligence, Goleman argues that neglecting to teach EQ has carried a cost.
—Jasna Hodžić, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
On Monday, prosecutors charged her with a felony count of child abuse for allegedly ripping out the teenager’s hair, and a misdemeanor count of child endangerment for allegedly neglecting the 3-year-old’s safety.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026
Her father, Will (Harmon Walsh), has focused on promoting and supporting the ice skating prospects of Adriana’s older sister, Elise (Alexandra Beaton), while neglecting rising bills, maintenance costs, and declining attendance—creating the conditions that threaten the rink’s future.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 22 Jan. 2026
Warning signs include difficulty cutting back despite wanting to, drinking more or longer than intended, spending a lot of time thinking about alcohol, neglecting responsibilities, or experiencing physical symptoms such as shaking, sweating, nausea or anxiety when not drinking.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for neglecting
Adjective
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There’s an absent father and a clueless, neglectful mother but the five Gilbert children — Lydia, Hugo, Annabel, Jeremy and Rosalind — are essentially raising themselves in an English country house of secret passages and worrying infestations.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
23 Jan. 2026
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There’s an absent father and a clueless, neglectful mother but the five Gilbert children — Lydia, Hugo, Annabel, Jeremy and Rosalind — are essentially raising themselves in an English country house of secret passages and worrying infestations.—
Chris Hewitt,
Boston Herald,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This framing effectively provides a rationale for ignoring officers’ commands during field encounters.—
Christina Buttons,
Washington Post,
3 Feb. 2026
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In November, my doctor gently reprimanded me for ignoring my 2024 colonoscopy date.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The singer had been tasked with announcing the penultimate winner of the night after accepting her Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy, and had already been flustered by initially forgetting to do so and having to be called back by six-time host Trevor Noah.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 Feb. 2026
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When Cher created some memorable live-TV chaos by forgetting to present Record of the Year at the 68th annual Grammy Awards Sunday night, executive producer Ben Winston immediately spoke into host Trevor Noah‘s earpiece.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Israel has long mistrusted UNIFIL, accusing it of failing to prevent Hezbollah from building up its military presence along the border in violation of ceasefire agreements going back two decades.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
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Marlin, the chief, was charged with evidence tampering and failing to report ethics crimes allegedly committed by two of his officers.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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When a newspaper is felled by careless or malicious owners, millions of people are hurt, in big ways and small ways and ways that are impossible to measure.—
Alexandra Petri,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
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Karlsson was on the wrong side of the puck all evening, made careless decisions and generally played a thoughtless game.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Like the pharaohs and emperors of antiquity, the president weaponizes the past to justify his present actions and future plans, omitting and embellishing events of yesteryear to fit a bellicose agenda.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
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By omitting the title requirement, the guidance mischaracterizes which programs are eligible for an exemption under the Act, making exemptions available for a much broader category of degree programs.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Fighting inflation by raising interest rates is lazy policy.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
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Not to sound lazy, but there are some pretty neat inventions that have come along to make this process much easier.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Since then, at least four lawsuits filed by families of victims have claimed the school district and administrators were negligent in protecting students from Elliott’s misconduct.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Feb. 2026
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Lawsuits also claim that Celina ISD was grossly negligent and enabled Caleb Elliott's misconduct, primarily to protect the reputation of the successful football program, as Caleb Elliott is the son of Bill Elliott, the long-time head football coach and athletic director.—
S.E. Jenkins,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Neglecting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/neglecting. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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