disregard 1 of 2

Definition of disregardnext

disregard

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word disregard distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of disregard are forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, and slight. While all these words mean "to pass over without giving due attention," disregard suggests voluntary inattention.

disregarded the wishes of his family

In what contexts can forget take the place of disregard?

The words forget and disregard are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, forget may suggest either a willful ignoring or a failure to impress something on one's mind.

forget what others say

When would ignore be a good substitute for disregard?

While the synonyms ignore and disregard are close in meaning, ignore implies a failure to regard something obvious.

ignored the snide remark

When is neglect a more appropriate choice than disregard?

The words neglect and disregard can be used in similar contexts, but neglect implies giving insufficient attention to something that merits one's attention.

habitually neglected his studies

Where would overlook be a reasonable alternative to disregard?

The synonyms overlook and disregard are sometimes interchangeable, but overlook suggests disregarding or ignoring through haste or lack of care.

in my rush I overlooked a key example

When might slight be a better fit than disregard?

In some situations, the words slight and disregard are roughly equivalent. However, slight implies contemptuous or disdainful disregarding or omitting.

slighted several major authors in her survey

How is the word disregard distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of disregard are forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, and slight. While all these words mean "to pass over without giving due attention," disregard suggests voluntary inattention.

disregarded the wishes of his family

In what contexts can forget take the place of disregard?

The words forget and disregard are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, forget may suggest either a willful ignoring or a failure to impress something on one's mind.

forget what others say

When would ignore be a good substitute for disregard?

While the synonyms ignore and disregard are close in meaning, ignore implies a failure to regard something obvious.

ignored the snide remark

When is neglect a more appropriate choice than disregard?

The words neglect and disregard can be used in similar contexts, but neglect implies giving insufficient attention to something that merits one's attention.

habitually neglected his studies

Where would overlook be a reasonable alternative to disregard?

The synonyms overlook and disregard are sometimes interchangeable, but overlook suggests disregarding or ignoring through haste or lack of care.

in my rush I overlooked a key example

When might slight be a better fit than disregard?

In some situations, the words slight and disregard are roughly equivalent. However, slight implies contemptuous or disdainful disregarding or omitting.

slighted several major authors in her survey

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of disregard
Noun
The judge said Johnson knowingly left her children in unsafe conditions and accused her of showing disregard for their basic needs. Hannah McIlree, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026 Yet this build has been critically undermined by a disregard for three critical ingredients in City’s success. Liam Twomey, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
Cultural Survival’s Mariana Kiimi Ortiz Flores said that the institution has suffered from a willingness by member states to simply disregard its laws. Anita Hofschneider, ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026 Those who disregard the initial fee or four overdue payments face a $1,012 fine. Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disregard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disregard
Noun
  • The house did not have a European or East Coast seriousness, but rather a Californian dimension rooted in casualness, improvisation, and lack of pretension.
    Rem Koolhaas, Artforum, 26 Mar. 2026
  • In beach towns or summer destinations, hats and tank tops can be more about comfort than casualness, prompting some to wonder how consistently the rules can be enforced.
    Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Larysa was stuck in Belarus, a country allied with Russia that Nataliia despised and had refused to move to, despite her daughter’s many pleas.
    Lizzie Johnson, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Critics say this would come with strict reporting requirements, something dispensaries may despise and the DEA may not be ready for.
    Addy Bink, The Hill, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The federal judge in that case ruled that a jury could find that State Farm had acted in bad faith if the plaintiffs' lawyers demonstrated that the company ignored certain kinds of hail damage.
    Michael Copley, NPR, 28 Apr. 2026
  • In crush, puncture, and saw tests, the battery produced no smoke or flames – a safety profile that's hard to ignore.
    Omar Kardoudi April 28, New Atlas, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • From the outside, the enormous former glove factory still resembles a warehouse, and from the store’s towering façade alone, first timers would be forgiven for thinking there’s no way the entire interior could be filled with books.
    Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Apr. 2026
  • In the Catholic tradition, a bad action doesn’t make someone a bad person; good people can sin and be forgiven.
    Elias Wachtel, The Atlantic, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • His inquiry surfaces a history of abuse, homophobia, and despair, and the film uses the tragedy to probe questions of moral accountability and collective indifference in Hong Kong.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026
  • They were murdered by people the Colorado District Attorneys' Council says would have been eligible for parole if not for Colorado's extreme indifference murder statute.
    Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The bank wants her descendants to stop forgetting it.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Seriously, when did everyone forget that this franchise is based on a dishy roman à clef in which Wintour is, hello, referred to as the Devil?
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • It shouldn’t be overlooked that the Spurs were able to win a playoff game on the road without their franchise cornerstone.
    Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
  • During the journey, visitors can stop at 12 different points of interest and overlooks that showcase the area’s diverse scenery.
    Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 26 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The former sent out an oversized black and white polka dot skirt—a wink to the retro print—styled with a textured top and gladiator sandals, while Dries Van Noten’s red and white abstract set evoked Mediterranean nonchalance.
    Minty Mellon, Vogue, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Wearing golden slippers and a modest cardigan against the snow piled high in the streets of her hometown of Leknes, the largest municipality in Lofoten, her nonchalance toward the Arctic cold switched to seriousness when discussing her work.
    Alan Crawford, Bloomberg, 20 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Disregard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disregard. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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