ignore

verb

ig-ˈnȯr How to pronounce ignore (audio)
Definition of ignorenext
1
as in to forget
to fail to give proper attention to ignoring your health now will haunt you further down the road

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to forgive
to dismiss as of little importance although the movie is a cinematic tour de force, one can't ignore the fact that it seriously distorts history

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word ignore distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of ignore are disregard, forget, neglect, overlook, and slight. While all these words mean "to pass over without giving due attention," ignore implies a failure to regard something obvious.

ignored the snide remark

When is disregard a more appropriate choice than ignore?

The words disregard and ignore are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, disregard suggests voluntary inattention.

disregarded the wishes of his family

When could forget be used to replace ignore?

Although the words forget and ignore have much in common, forget may suggest either a willful ignoring or a failure to impress something on one's mind.

forget what others say

When can neglect be used instead of ignore?

The synonyms neglect and ignore are sometimes interchangeable, but neglect implies giving insufficient attention to something that merits one's attention.

habitually neglected his studies

Where would overlook be a reasonable alternative to ignore?

The words overlook and ignore can be used in similar contexts, but overlook suggests disregarding or ignoring through haste or lack of care.

in my rush I overlooked a key example

When would slight be a good substitute for ignore?

While the synonyms slight and ignore are close in meaning, 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 ignore India may still be building its tech future, but if the unicorn count is even half right, the scale of what’s coming is hard to ignore. —Catherine Baab, Quartz, 23 May 2025 Escalating matters, Daltrey and Townshend have begun to publicly gripe about each other in the firing’s aftermath, which Devours is ignoring for now. —Devon Ivie, Vulture, 23 May 2025 Employees who feel misunderstood or ignored are more likely to disengage and seek opportunities elsewhere. —Edward Segal, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025 The Wall Street Journal: Columbia University violated federal civil-rights law by ignoring the harassment of Jewish students by classmates, a government investigation found. —Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for ignore
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ignore
  1. forget
  2. forgive
  3. disregard
  4. overlook
  5. neglect
  6. explain
  7. justify
  8. excuse
Verb
  • Just don’t forget to click the coupon for extra savings.
    — Clint Davis, People.com, 23 May 2025
  • Don’t forget about your smartwatch, fitness tracker, or smart ring.
    — Simon Hill, Wired News, 23 May 2025
Definition of forget
Verb
  • But all those terms are — forgive the pun — on the outs.
    — Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2025
  • After the season Manchester United has endured, the club’s fans could be forgiven for wanting the campaign to end.
    — Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Definition of forgive
Verb
  • Under President Jair Bolsonaro, the prior government allowed for rapid deforestation in exchange for quick economic gain and disregarded the global push for climate action.
    — Justin Worland, Time, 23 May 2025
  • Scientific research must be funded, but integrity matters and UCSD must face real consequences for disregarding the law and failing its students.
    — Letters To The Editor, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 May 2025
Definition of disregard
Verb
  • Overall, the move to focus on individual risks and benefits may overlook broader public health benefits.
    — Libby Richards, The Conversation, 29 May 2025
  • Tucked between Kamala and Patong beach, the journey to this hidden hillside bar includes a wooden path with photogenic stops, including a floating frame overlooking the Andaman Sea.
    — Kaila Yu, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Definition of overlook
Verb
  • Window treatments appear in nearly every room in the house, but the kitchen has long been neglected, thanks to airflow needs and cooking residue.
    — Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 May 2025
  • However, because of its small flowers, Calibrachoa was long neglected by plant breeders in favor of the petunia with its larger blooms.
    — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 24 May 2025
Definition of neglect
Verb
  • But in the late 19th century, Finkelstein explained, women who'd worked as nurses during the Civil War, even though not part of the Union or Confederate armies, lobbied for and won the right to be buried at Arlington.
    — Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 27 May 2025
  • Here, again, the English translation fails to capture the historical and cultural connotations of the Persian, Bahari explained.
    — Robin Wright, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
Definition of explain
Verb
  • This tactic is sometimes used to justify letting an employee go under the guise of poor performance.
    — Sho Dewan, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
  • By confusing the idea that the people’s will must prevail with what the law actually says, these leaders justify intimidating judges and their sound legal rulings, a move that ultimately undermines democracy.
    — Michael Gregory, The Conversation, 23 May 2025
Definition of justify
Verb
  • This creates a tension between excusing and exempting abuse.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • But for her, the speculation doesn’t excuse what came next.
    — Ashley Vega, People.com, 29 May 2025
Definition of excuse

Browse Nearby Words

ignorant
ignore
ignored
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Cite this Entry

“Ignore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ignore. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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