remiss
Americanadjective
-
negligent, careless, or slow in performing one's duty, business, etc..
He's terribly remiss in his work.
- Synonyms:
- neglectful, slack, lax, thoughtless, derelict
-
characterized by negligence or carelessness.
- Synonyms:
- neglectful, slack, lax, thoughtless, derelict
adjective
-
lacking in care or attention to duty; negligent
-
lacking in energy; dilatory
Synonym Usage
See neglect.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of remiss
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin remissus, past participle of remittere “to send back, slacken, relax”; see remit
Explanation
If it's your turn to bring in the coffee and donuts for your early morning meeting, and you forget, then your co-workers can say that you were remiss in fulfilling your responsibility to keep them awake with sugar and caffeine. Don't expect to get much done at your meeting. The adjective remiss is often used in the phrase "remiss in one's duty." The principal was remiss in her duty to tell parents about the incident at school. After the parents heard about it from their kids, the principal received several angry phone calls wondering why the school had been locked down for loose farm animals.
Vocabulary lists containing remiss
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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"The Odyssey" by Homer, Books 1–7
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The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Remiss indeed were Vandenberg & friends if they failed to note this lone overstatement in a speech notable for its restraint.
From Time Magazine Archive
Of this brave prince the soft degen'rate son, Fernando the Remiss, ascends the throne.
From The Lusiad or The Discovery of India, an Epic Poem by Camões, Luís de
Remiss in their national duties, as we contend, they make no positive attack upon the institution in the Southern States.
From The Impending Crisis of the South How to Meet It by Helper, Hinton Rowan
Remiss, rē-mis′, adj. remitting in attention, &c.: negligent: not punctual: slack: not vigorous.—adj.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various
Remiss in watchfulness, and formal in prayer, Carnal-security invade the mind.
From Works of John Bunyan — Volume 03 by Bunyan, John
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
