neglect
1 of 2verb
ne·glect ni-ˈglekt 
neglected; neglecting; neglects
transitive verb
1
: to give little attention or respect to : disregard
The building has been neglected for years.
2
: to leave undone or unattended to especially through carelessness
The prison guard neglected his duty.
neglecter noun
neglect
2 of 2noun
1
: an act or instance of neglecting something
2
: the condition of being neglected
Synonyms
Verb
- bypass
- disregard
- forget
- ignore
- overlook
- overpass
- pass over
- slight
- slur (over)
Noun
- desolation
- dilapidation
- disrepair
- seediness
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb The building has been neglected for years. The city has neglected the teacher shortage for too long. The prison guard neglected his duty. Noun The park was overgrown and littered from years of neglect. The parents were charged with child neglect. The house is in a state of neglect. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2022 In a 2014 report, the Michigan Office of the Auditor General found that the state recipient rights office failed to open investigations immediately as required after receiving complaints alleging abuse and neglect at the those hospitals. Jennifer Dixon, Freep.com, 9 Sep. 2022 Almost all abuse and neglect allegations stem from incidents that occur inside. Molly Parker, ProPublica, 7 Sep. 2022 Court records show in that case, Opelika police received a child abuse and neglect report from DHR that stated Hughley-Carr’s newborn had tested positive for marijuana and cocaine following the mother’s emergency C-Section. Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 30 Aug. 2022 Police have charged the father and stepmother of 5-year-old Pradeline Delinois with child abuse and neglect after the girl died of injuries related to blunt force trauma, officials announced Friday. Katie Mettler, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2022 Protesters gather at the Utah Capitol to call for removing the clergy exemption from mandatory reporting in cases of abuse and neglect on Friday, Aug. 19, 2022. David Noyce, The Salt Lake Tribune, 25 Aug. 2022 The song gave voice to the historic moment, touching on homophobia, government mismanagement and neglect, and homes left roofless by hurricanes. Ray Sanchez, CNN, 13 Aug. 2022 This is an area that multifamily project sponsors neglect at their own peril. Veena Jetti, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2022 Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 12 Sep. 2022 Munton last week considered closing the school, but Agape officials told authorities that the person on the abuse and neglect registry was fired on Wednesday. Jim Salter, ajc, 12 Sep. 2022 The water crisis was a result of decades-long neglect, with a failing water treatment system that had a history of equipment failures and issues, according to Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba. Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2022 Andrade, 27, was indicted on a charge of second-degree murder, and on two counts of cruelty and neglect of her two older sons. Amanda Milkovits, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2022 The city’s power department officials were blamed for utter neglect. Niharika Sharma, Quartz, 6 Sep. 2022 This neglect had normalized the regime’s human-rights abuses and propaganda. Steve Walker, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2022 Many in the majority-Black city where around a quarter of residents live in poverty say that systemic neglect is one of the drivers of Jackson's water issues. Austin Steele, CNN, 3 Sep. 2022 Along with manslaughter, Matthew Allen is facing charges of kidnapping, unlawful transport of human remains, tampering with evidence, grand theft auto and child neglect. Cristóbal Reyes, Orlando Sentinel, 3 Sep. 2022 See More
Verb
Shira Scott Astrof, founder of the Animal Rescue Mission, wants the city to put dogs involved in abuse or neglect cases in foster homes. Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2022 In a 2014 report, the Michigan Office of the Auditor General found that the state recipient rights office failed to open investigations immediately as required after receiving complaints alleging abuse and neglect at the those hospitals. Jennifer Dixon, Freep.com, 9 Sep. 2022 Almost all abuse and neglect allegations stem from incidents that occur inside. Molly Parker, ProPublica, 7 Sep. 2022 Court records show in that case, Opelika police received a child abuse and neglect report from DHR that stated Hughley-Carr’s newborn had tested positive for marijuana and cocaine following the mother’s emergency C-Section. Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 30 Aug. 2022 Police have charged the father and stepmother of 5-year-old Pradeline Delinois with child abuse and neglect after the girl died of injuries related to blunt force trauma, officials announced Friday. Katie Mettler, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2022 Protesters gather at the Utah Capitol to call for removing the clergy exemption from mandatory reporting in cases of abuse and neglect on Friday, Aug. 19, 2022. David Noyce, The Salt Lake Tribune, 25 Aug. 2022 The song gave voice to the historic moment, touching on homophobia, government mismanagement and neglect, and homes left roofless by hurricanes. Ray Sanchez, CNN, 13 Aug. 2022 This is an area that multifamily project sponsors neglect at their own peril. Veena Jetti, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2022 Noun
But across the state, graves are falling into disrepair as earth, grass and weeds swallow markers that have become illegible with years of corrosion and neglect. Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 12 Sep. 2022 Munton last week considered closing the school, but Agape officials told authorities that the person on the abuse and neglect registry was fired on Wednesday. Jim Salter, ajc, 12 Sep. 2022 The water crisis was a result of decades-long neglect, with a failing water treatment system that had a history of equipment failures and issues, according to Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba. Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2022 Andrade, 27, was indicted on a charge of second-degree murder, and on two counts of cruelty and neglect of her two older sons. Amanda Milkovits, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2022 The city’s power department officials were blamed for utter neglect. Niharika Sharma, Quartz, 6 Sep. 2022 This neglect had normalized the regime’s human-rights abuses and propaganda. Steve Walker, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2022 Many in the majority-Black city where around a quarter of residents live in poverty say that systemic neglect is one of the drivers of Jackson's water issues. Austin Steele, CNN, 3 Sep. 2022 Along with manslaughter, Matthew Allen is facing charges of kidnapping, unlawful transport of human remains, tampering with evidence, grand theft auto and child neglect. Cristóbal Reyes, Orlando Sentinel, 3 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
borrowed from Latin neglēctus, past participle of neglegere, neclegere "to disregard, do nothing about, fail to care for," from nec "not" (probably from ne- "not" + -ce, deictic element, going back to Indo-European *ḱe, *ḱi) + legere "to gather, select, read" — more at no entry 1, he entry 1, legend
Note: The Latin formative nec in this word and (with invariable voicing) in negō, negāre "to deny" (see negate) and negōtium "business, difficulty" (see negotiate) is presumably identical with Old Latin nec "not" and distinct from nec as a reduced form of neque "and not."
Noun
borrowed from Latin neglēctus, from neglegere, neclegere "to disregard, do nothing about, neglect entry 1" + -tus, suffix of verbal action
First Known Use
Verb
1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing neglect
Kids Definition
neglect 1 of 2
verb
ne·glect ni-ˈglekt
neglected; neglecting
1
: to fail to give the right amount of attention to
The property has been neglected.
2
: to fail to do or look after especially because of carelessness
She neglected to say goodbye.
neglect
2 of 2noun
1
: lack of attention or care to something or someone
neglect of duty
2
: the state of not being looked after or given attention
The house suffers from neglect.
Legal Definition
neglect
noun
ne·glect
: a disregard of duty resulting from carelessness, indifference, or willfulness
especially : a failure to provide a child under one's care with proper food, clothing, shelter, supervision, medical care, or emotional stability compare abuse sense 2, negligence
neglecting 1 of 2
adjective
as in neglectful
failing to give proper care and attention our chronically neglecting custodian has let trash accumulate around the warehouse Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- neglectful
- careless
- lazy
- negligent
- derelict
- remiss
- reckless
- lax
- slack
- oblivious
- disregarding
- disregardful
- forgetful
- irresponsible
- heedless
- unmindful
- inattentive
- uninterested
- delinquent
- indifferent
- thoughtless
- disinterested
- unconcerned
- incautious
- unthinking
- unguarded
- unwary
- apathetic
- unheeding
- loose
- wild
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- careful
- regarding
- attentive
- conscientious
- painstaking
- responsible
- meticulous
- punctilious
- mindful
- thinking
- nonnegligent
- wary
- cautious
- vigilant
- chary
- circumspect
- watchful
- guarded
- interested
- heeding
- observant
- alert
- concerned
- provident
- regardful
- heedful
- thoughtful
- gingerly
- forethoughtful
- foresighted
neglecting
2 of 2verb
1
as in ignoring
to fail to give proper attention to as usual the news media neglected the real issues of the campaign and focused on personalities Synonyms & Similar Words
- ignoring
- forgetting
- disregarding
- missing
- overlooking
- bypassing
- slighting
- omitting
- failing
- rejecting
- overpassing
- passing over
- disdaining
- slurring (over)
- skimping
- scorning
- scanting
- shrugging off
- pooh-poohing
- sluffing (off)
- poohing
- sloughing (off)
- brushing (aside or off)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- regarding
- valuing
- appreciating
- minding
- fostering
- cultivating
- attending (to)
- heeding
- tending (to)
- cherishing
- remembering
- nurturing
- treasuring
- nursing
- noticing
- observing
- watching
- following
- prizing
- listening (to)
- pampering
- noting
- remarking
- marking
2
as in forgetting
to leave undone or unattended to especially through carelessness I've neglected my garden, and now it's overgrown with weeds Synonyms & Similar Words
- forgetting
- shirking
- slacking (off)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- doing
- remembering
- performing
- attending (to)
- executing
- achieving
- accomplishing
- maintaining
- carrying out
- keeping up
3
as in failing
to miss the opportunity or obligation conveniently, the job applicant neglected to mention his criminal record Synonyms & Similar Words
- forgetting
- failing
- omitting
- ignoring
- disregarding
- slighting
- missing out on
- skipping
- sliding
- defaulting
- pretermitting
- overlooking
- passing over
- slipping
- overpassing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- remembering
- keeping
- doing
- heeding
- observing
- minding
- performing
- practicing
- executing
- practising
- fulfilling
- discharging
- satisfying
- meeting
- complying (with)
- carrying out