forgetful

[fer-get-fuhl]

adjective

1. apt to forget; that forgets.

   a forgetful person.

   Synonyms: unmindful, inattentive, absent-minded

2. heedless or neglectful (often followed byof ).

   to be forgetful of others.

3. bringing on oblivion.

   forgetful slumber.

forgetful

/ fəˈɡɛtfʊl /

adjective

1. tending to forget

2. inattentive (to) or neglectful (of)

3. poetic,  causing loss of memory

Other Word Forms

• forgetfully adverb
• forgetfulness noun
• quasi-forgetful adjective
• quasi-forgetfully adverb
• unforgetful adjective
• unforgetfully adverb
• unforgetfulness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of forgetful¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; forget, -ful

Example Sentences

That luxury has, I fear, made us forgetful.

From Los Angeles Times

With each passing year, I see and hear the patient’s spiral of worry: Am I getting more forgetful?

From Los Angeles Times

Maybe he was wounded, misidentified, forgetful of who he was.

From Los Angeles Times

Many women talk about having "pregnancy brain" or "baby brain", to describe feeling forgetful, absent-minded or having brain fog.

From BBC

On paper, the show’s whimsical, forgetful hippie — whose bewildering backstory includes being part of a drug-fueled cult and being mauled to death by a bear in the woods — could easily come across as one-note.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• careless 
• distracted 
• inattentive 
• sloppy