disregard 1 of 2

Definition of disregardnext

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

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
Hydra Head Records may have been built on handshakes, artistic freedom and a healthy disregard for conventional genre boundaries, but keeping the thing running was considerably messier. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 18 Sep. 2026 Gonzaba was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, causing bodily injury, hit-and-run involving death/injury, vehicle theft and felony evading a peace officer with disregard for safety, police said. — Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Verb
In the tape of the 9-1-1 call, Randolph can be heard disregarding paramedic’s orders, giving Causse chest compressions even after he was instructed to not touch the body. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2026 Carey believes Hope Florida is an example of how disabled people’s welfare is disregarded. — Justin Garcia, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disregard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disregard
Noun
  • The painting’s joyful casualness belies its subject matter, clues to which can be found in the coyote on one of the men’s shirts and in the work’s title, Uncle’s Crossing (2022).
    — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • For most, though, the dress is business casual, matching the growing casualness of their behavior in the box over the course of long sessions.
    — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • For example, Scalia famously cast the deciding vote in 1989 to hold unconstitutional a law criminalizing burning the American flag despite being a big patriot and despising such activities.
    — Brian Fitzpatrick, The Conversation, 28 Sep. 2026
  • In both projects, she was tasked not only with playing the same person from young adulthood to maturity, but also with bringing new dimension to a literary character whom readers have misguidedly despised for decades.
    — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 25 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Corbett said such arguments ignore Illinois’ long history of underfunding public schools, with the state providing only about a quarter of school districts’ revenue, according to the State Board of Education’s most recent Illinois Report Card.
    — Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The shame lies with the governments who ignored the AIDS crisis and the stigma that was around people and the innate prejudice that was in society.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Telluride’s ski area stretches across more than 2,000 acres, from wide, forgiving groomers to steep chutes and bowls, with the terrain climbing to 12,570 feet.
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • SpaceX’s reported $40 billion debt raise to buy Nvidia chips shows it is stuck between mature tech giants like Google and Meta and startups like OpenAI and Anthropic, whose private status tends to forgive their inability to pay their own bills.
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The defendant showed a shocking indifference to the lives of her victims and is now facing significant consequences for her conduct.
    — Elijah Westbrook, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026
  • And paradoxically, that indifference is what ultimately makes the city so deeply emotional.
    — Roberto Prieto, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Most mega-bestsellers of eras past are forgotten, and even the award winners that make their way into academic syllabi fade into dusty bibliography.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The cheek-facing side, the chewing surface and the often-forgotten inside surface near the tongue or roof of the mouth.
    — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Kelly said that too often medical records note only a concussion, which is in fact a mild traumatic brain injury, but can be overlooked.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • There’s an excellent Anantara Spa and a state-of-the-art fitness center onsite, but the highlight of the property is its 60-foot-long oceanfront infinity pool, which overlooks the entire expanse of Stone Town beach.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • There’s still the nonchalance, the feeling of being all-powerful that many teenagers have.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Their nonchalance about potential Social Security cuts further indicates reduced reliance on such benefits.
    — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Disregard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disregard. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster