remiss

[ ri-mis ]

/ rɪˈmɪs /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR remiss ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

negligent, careless, or slow in performing one's duty, business, etc.: He's terribly remiss in his work.

characterized by negligence or carelessness.

lacking force or energy; languid; sluggish.

Nearby words

reminiscence, reminiscent, reminiscential, remiped, remise, remiss, remissible, remission, remissive, remit, remitt.

Origin of remiss

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin remissus (past participle of remittere to send back, slacken, relax); see remit

SYNONYMS FOR remiss

1, 2 derelict, thoughtless, lax, slack, neglectful.

3 dilatory, slothful, slow.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR remiss ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

re·miss·ly, adverbre·miss·ness, nouno·ver·re·miss, adjectiveo·ver·re·miss·ly, adverb

o·ver·re·miss·ness, noun

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

Examples from the Web for remissness

It never occurred to him to write again; and Carmen was not surprised at his remissness.
The Port of Adventure|Charles Norris Williamson and Alice Muriel Williamson
Spike now saw this well planned project to avoid death, and regretted his own remissness in not making sure of Jack.
Graham's Magazine Vol XXXII No. 1 January 1848|Various
Again shame for my mother's remissness obliged me to cast down my eyes in awkward silence.
Tales And Novels, Volume 9 (of 10)|Maria Edgeworth
Mr. Wyde's offence was one of remissness rather than of excessive care for his personal appearance.
A Book About Lawyers|John Cordy Jeaffreson

Well, thats one on me, he said finally, as if partly ashamed of his remissness toward himself.
Whispering Tongues|Homer Greene

British Dictionary definitions for remissness

remiss

/ (rɪˈmɪs) /

adjective (postpositive)

lacking in care or attention to duty; negligent

lacking in energy; dilatory

Derived Forms

remissly, adverbremissness, noun

Word Origin for remiss

C15: from Latin remissus from remittere to release, from re- + mittere to send

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