Synonym Chooser

How is the word negligent different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of negligent are lax, neglectful, remiss, and slack. While all these words mean "culpably careless or indicative of such carelessness," negligent implies inattention to one's duty or business.

negligent about writing a note of thanks

When is it sensible to use lax instead of negligent?

While the synonyms lax and negligent are close in meaning, lax implies a blameworthy lack of strictness, severity, or precision.

a reporter lax about accurate quotation

Where would neglectful be a reasonable alternative to negligent?

Although the words neglectful and negligent have much in common, neglectful adds a more disapproving implication of laziness or deliberate inattention.

a society callously neglectful of the poor

In what contexts can remiss take the place of negligent?

While in some cases nearly identical to negligent, remiss implies blameworthy carelessness shown in slackness, forgetfulness, or neglect.

had been remiss in their familial duties

When can slack be used instead of negligent?

The meanings of slack and negligent largely overlap; however, slack implies want of due or necessary diligence or care.

slack workmanship

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 negligent The suit, filed last October in a Texas state court in Dallas County, alleges that the downtown location of Fairfield Inn & Suites and its staff were negligent and allowed the intruder to commit the assault. Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 June 2025 The lawsuit makes negligent supervision, false imprisonment, battery and other allegations against the two parties and is seeking damages over the episode. Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2025 In the aftermath, five people were charged in connection with his death, three with negligent homicide, or unintentional manslaughter, and two with supplying drugs. Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 12 June 2025 The man was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and negligent use of a deadly weapon, police said. Paloma Chavez july 2, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for negligent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for negligent
Adjective
  • One of the children was discovered in a neglectful condition in August, according to court records.
    Bailey Richards, People.com, 15 June 2025
  • Hinchliffe Stadium originally opened in 1932 and hosted the Negro Leagues’ New York Black Yankees and the American Soccer League’s New Jersey Eagles in the late 1980s before shuttering in 1996 after many neglectful years without maintenance and upkeep.
    Jeff Rueter, New York Times, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • Proof Carefully To Show Professionalism And Attention To Detail What gets my negative attention are résumés with careless errors—typos, missing words and inconsistent formatting.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
  • Social media erupted in fear, and disgust, or simply threw shame his way for being careless.
    Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • It's adorned as a melting ski resort, featuring cool slides, a lazy river, and a wave pool.
    Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 23 July 2025
  • Babitz is often contrasted with her frenemy Joan Didion—Babitz was cast in the popular imagination as the fun, ditzy sexpot, as opposed to Didion’s cool, cold-blooded stenographer—but the maturity and thoughtfulness of these stories dispel any lazy stereotypes.
    The Atlantic Culture Desk, The Atlantic, 23 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Negligent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/negligent. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on negligent

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