neglectful

[ ni-glekt-fuhl ]

/ nɪˈglɛkt fəl /

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adjective

characterized by neglect; disregardful; careless; negligent (often followed by of): neglectful of one's health.

Nearby words

negator, negatory, negatron, negev, neglect, neglectful, negligee, negligence, negligent, negligible, negotiable

Origin of neglectful

First recorded in 1615–25; neglect + -ful

SYNONYMS FOR neglectful

remiss, inattentive, heedless, thoughtless.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR neglectful ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR neglectful

careful, thoughtful.

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Related forms

ne·glect·ful·ly, adverbne·glect·ful·ness, nouno·ver·ne·glect·ful, adjectiveo·ver·ne·glect·ful·ly, adverb

o·ver·ne·glect·ful·ness, nounpre·ne·glect·ful, adjectiveself-ne·glect·ful, adjectiveun·ne·glect·ful, adjectiveun·ne·glect·ful·ly, adverb

Can be confused

neglectful negligible

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for neglectful

Off stage, he was an unfaithful husband, a neglectful father, and a friend only so long as you did what he wanted.
Wheeere’s Johnny?|Malcolm Jones|October 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In the book, Matilda overcame her neglectful parents by teaching herself how to read Dickens and perform complicated math.
‘Matilda’ Star Mara Wilson Reviews ‘Matilda the Musical’|Ramin Setoodeh|April 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Too many of his writings have as their theme the great wrong done to him personally by a neglectful country.
Gore Vidal, 1925-2012|David Frum|August 1, 2012|DAILY BEAST
At the very next meeting, monsieur shall see whether the great government's French children are neglectful!
In Madeira Place|Heman White Chaplin

I felt impatient and decided to give her a scolding for being so neglectful.
A Waif of the Mountains|Edward S. Ellis
Most retail stores are neglectful o' this item—they're careless and waste and misuse supplies.
Dawson Black: Retail Merchant|Harold Whitehead
Are you going to throw off the mask outright, and become a bad husband as well as a neglectful one?
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
There has been an unsuccessful flight, and the little hawk goes to perch upon a rick, neglectful of the proffered fist or lure.
The Art and Practice of Hawking|Edward B. Michell

British Dictionary definitions for neglectful

neglectful

/ (nɪˈɡlɛktfʊl) /

adjective

(when postpositive, foll by of) not giving due care and attention (to); careless; heedless

Derived Forms

neglectfully, adverbneglectfulness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012