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

Relevance

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
The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office found Petrocelli guilty of neglect of duty, among other issues. Bebe Hodges, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 His bond was set to $3,500 altogether — $1,000 for the reckless driving charge and $2,500 for the child neglect charge — and he was released the following day. Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 26 June 2025
Verb
Arizona has a new law that will allow faster response to animal cruelty cases, a measure animal welfare advocates said was needed after a Chandler woman was charged with neglecting 55 dogs nearly two years ago. Stacey Barchenger, AZCentral.com, 8 July 2025 For too long, Black women have been expected to push through exhaustion and neglect their own needs—but not anymore. Dominique Fluker, Essence, 5 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for neglect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for neglect
Noun
  • Cincinnati operates 41 restrooms in its 5,000-acre system, with plans to open six in disrepair by next year.
    Patricia Gallagher Newberry, The Enquirer, 4 July 2025
  • But it’s been in disrepair for years and rarely used.
    Miami Herald Staff, Miami Herald, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • There had to be some human hand at work engineering this great misfortune — even if only through negligence.
    The Editors, National Review, 7 July 2025
  • The lawsuit alleges negligent infliction of emotional distress and negligence, according to the Connecticut Mirror. Anthony Spinella, her attorney, told the Connecticut Mirror that Ortiz was seeking $3 million in damages.
    Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2025
Verb
  • Too many times last year the line would just ignore somebody running right at them.
    Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 11 July 2025
  • The conversation has put a spotlight on a dynamic that’s hard to ignore: how global leaders, especially from Western nations, talk about and to Africa.
    Oumou Fofana, Essence, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • Child and pet safety: Never forget to safeguard young children and pets by not leaving them unattended in vehicles, especially during scorching weather when car interiors can become life-threateningly hot.
    Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 11 July 2025
  • These all will look perfect from long days in the sand, or poolside with a cold drink in hand—just don’t forget the SPF.
    Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • Lin, its inventor, was born in 1895 in southern China during the tail end of a failing Qing dynasty.
    Emily Feng, NPR, 5 July 2025
  • According to court documents obtained by the Charlotte Observer, the office found the commission failed to provide the bar with sufficient notice within five days of a April 30 deadline as required by the new statute before canceling the business’s ABC permits.
    Nora O’Neill July 5, Charlotte Observer, 5 July 2025
Noun
  • Ford is recalling over 850,000 vehicles due to a potential low-pressure fuel pump failure, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA.
    Julia Gomez, USA Today, 12 July 2025
  • The changes address failures uncovered a year ago by the ProPublica/CBS News investigation.
    Cassandra Jaramillo, ProPublica, 12 July 2025
Verb
  • And if the expansionists prevail, the customer is being disregarded at alarming levels here.
    Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 10 July 2025
  • Tariffs are raising costs while public discourse increasingly disregards science itself.
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Neglect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/neglect. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on neglect

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!