neglect

[ ni-glekt ]

/ nɪˈglɛkt /

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See synonyms for: neglect / neglected / neglecting / neglects on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to pay no attention or too little attention to; disregard or slight: The public neglected his genius for many years.

to be remiss in the care or treatment of: to neglect one's family; to neglect one's appearance.

to omit, through indifference or carelessness: to neglect to reply to an invitation.

to fail to carry out or perform (orders, duties, etc.): to neglect the household chores.

to fail to take or use: to neglect no precaution.

noun

an act or instance of neglecting; disregard; negligence: The neglect of the property was shameful.

the fact or state of being neglected: a beauty marred by neglect.

OTHER WORDS FOR neglect

1 ignore.

6, 7 default, inattention, heedlessness.

See synonyms for neglect on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR neglect

6 attention, care.

See antonyms for neglect on Thesaurus.com

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of neglect

First recorded in1520–30; from Latin neglēctus, variant of neclēctus (past participle of neglegere, neclegere “to disregard, ignore, slight”), equivalent to nec “not” + leg-, base of legere “to pick up” + -tus past participle suffix

synonym study for neglect

1. See slight. 6, 7. Neglect, dereliction, negligence, remissness imply carelessness, failure, or some important omission in the performance of one's duty, a task, etc. Neglect and negligence are occasionally interchangeable, but neglect commonly refers to an instance, negligence to the habit or trait, of failing to attend to or perform what is expected or required: gross neglect of duty; negligence in handling traffic problems. Dereliction implies culpable or reprehensible neglect or failure in the performance of duty: dereliction in a position of responsibility. Remissness implies the omission or the careless or indifferent performance of a duty: remissness in filing a report on the accident.

OTHER WORDS FROM neglect

ne·glect·ed·ly, adverbne·glect·ed·ness, nounne·glect·er, ne·glec·tor, nouno·ver·ne·glect, verb (used with object)

pre·ne·glect, verb (used with object)qua·si-ne·glect·ed, adjectiveself-ne·glect, adjectiveself-ne·glect·ing, adjectiveun·ne·glect·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use neglect in a sentence

That disorienting period of neglect and even more perilous ordeals later have left Antara craving her mother’s attention while hating her.
‘Burnt Sugar,’ a challenging Booker Prize finalist, is hard to take, but harder to shake off|Ron Charles|January 19, 2021|Washington Post
Snyder was charged with two counts of willful neglect of duty, which are misdemeanor charges that can each be punished by up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine.
Ex-Michigan governor indicted for “willful neglect” in Flint water crisis|Jon Brodkin|January 14, 2021|Ars Technica
Magdy’s health has suffered behind bars by deliberate medical neglect and inhumane prison conditions.
Journalists faced new threats in 2020. These 10 and countless others deserve justice|lbelanger225|January 4, 2021|Fortune
This neglect faced by other languages is significant not merely because it reinforces the cultural dominance of English, but also because it represents a consequential hurdle to accessing information and knowledge for hundreds of millions of people.
The web must change its business model if it wants to become truly global and multilingual|matthewheimer|December 21, 2020|Fortune

The new arrivals began fixing up homes that had suffered from decades of neglect.
As COVID-19 Ravaged This Iowa City, Officials Discovered Meatpacking Executives Were the Ones in Charge|by Michael Grabell and Bernice Yeung|December 21, 2020|ProPublica
He begins drinking heavily, neglecting his family, and accusing his wife of having an affair.
Ethan Hawke's 'Good Kill': A Searing Indictment of America's Drone Warfare Obsession|Marlow Stern|September 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Mourn so enthusiastically that you end up neglecting your own family.
Nick Cannon’s Not a Gigolo, But He Had Sex with Kim Kardashian|Amy Zimmerman|August 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And that was, neglecting the fact that they were sitcom characters, a “real” gay couple.
Modern Family’s Big, Gay (and Important) Wedding|Kevin Fallon|May 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Her candidacy set off a controversy about whether she was neglecting her children, in particular her special-needs baby.
The Right Subjects Wendy Davis to Litmus Tests No Male Would Ever Face|Kirsten Powers|January 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
More often than not, neglecting moves such as the squat or dreaded deadlift can lead to higher chance of injury.
Why You Should Train Like an Athlete (Even If You Aren’t One)|DailyBurn|December 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But men, through neglecting the rules of health, pass quickly to old age, and die before reaching that term.
The Mediaeval Mind (Volume II of II)|Henry Osborn Taylor
Meanwhile his property may be seized by a marshal or receiver on proof that he is neglecting it or that it is deteriorating.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles
Ireland is often accused of neglecting her opportunities, but never her hospitality.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
Neglecting minor discrepancies, one may safely accept Mr Bain's reconciliation of the various accounts.
King Robert the Bruce|A. F. Murison
Thoughts of what her mistress might do in such a case reminded her that she was neglecting the fish.
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 17, No. 101, March, 1866|Various

British Dictionary definitions for neglect

neglect

/ (nɪˈɡlɛkt) /

verb (tr)

to fail to give due care, attention, or time toto neglect a child

to fail (to do something) through thoughtlessness or carelessnesshe neglected to tell her

to ignore or disregardshe neglected his frantic signals

noun

lack of due care or attention; negligencethe child starved through neglect

the act or an instance of neglecting or the state of being neglected

Derived forms of neglect

neglecter or neglector, noun

Word Origin for neglect

C16: from Latin neglegere to neglect, from nec not + legere to select

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

neglect

OTHER WORDS FOR neglect

OPPOSITES FOR neglect

Origin of neglect

synonym study for neglect

OTHER WORDS FROM neglect

Words related to neglect

How to use neglect in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for neglect

Derived forms of neglect

Word Origin for neglect