neglectful

[ni-glekt-fuhl]

See more synonyms for neglectful on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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

Origin of neglectful

First recorded in 1615–25; neglect + -ful

Related formsne·glect·ful·ly, adverbne·glect·ful·ness, nouno·ver·ne·glect·ful, adjectiveo·ver·ne·glect·ful·ly, adverbo·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 confusedneglectful negligible

Synonyms

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

remiss, inattentive, heedless, thoughtless.

Antonyms

careful, thoughtful.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for neglectful

Contemporary Examples

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
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
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

Historical Examples

Really, Dan, it is extraordinary how neglectful of me that child can sometimes be.
The Inn at the Red Oak
Latta Griswold
Was there any human father who could be so callous, so neglectful, so cruel, as that?
The Woman Thou Gavest Me
Hall Caine
I felt impatient and decided to give her a scolding for being so neglectful.
A Waif of the Mountains
Edward S. Ellis
Mr. Soames, a man of experience, scented an intrigue and a neglectful husband.
The Yellow Claw
Sax Rohmer
Not only the siege orphans, but so many who have sick or neglectful mothers.
The Dop Doctor
Clotilde Inez Mary Graves

British Dictionary definitions for neglectful

neglectful

adjective

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

Derived Formsneglectfully, 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

Word Origin and History for neglectful

adj.

1640s, from neglect + -ful. Related: Neglectfully; neglectfulness. Earlier in same sense was neglective (1610s).

neglectful

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}neglectful

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Examples from the Web for neglectful

Contemporary Examples

Off stage, he was an unfaithful husband, a neglectful father, and a friend only so long as you did what he wanted.

In the book, Matilda overcame her neglectful parents by teaching herself how to read Dickens and perform complicated math.

Too many of his writings have as their theme the great wrong done to him personally by a neglectful country.

Historical Examples

Really, Dan, it is extraordinary how neglectful of me that child can sometimes be.

Was there any human father who could be so callous, so neglectful, so cruel, as that?

I felt impatient and decided to give her a scolding for being so neglectful.

Mr. Soames, a man of experience, scented an intrigue and a neglectful husband.

Not only the siege orphans, but so many who have sick or neglectful mothers.

neglectful

Word Origin and History for neglectful

adj.

Origin of neglectful