neglectful

1 of 2

adjective

ne·​glect·​ful ni-ˈglek(t)-fəl How to pronounce neglectful (audio)
Synonyms of neglectfulnext
: given to neglecting : careless, heedless
neglectfully
ni-ˈglek(t)-fə-lē How to pronounce neglectful (audio)
adverb
neglectfulness noun

neglectfulness

2 of 2

noun

ne·​glect·​ful·​ness
plural -es
: the quality or state of being neglectful

Synonyms of neglectful

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Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for neglectful

negligent, neglectful, lax, slack, remiss mean culpably careless or indicative of such carelessness.

negligent implies inattention to one's duty or business.

negligent about writing a note of thanks

neglectful adds a more disapproving implication of laziness or deliberate inattention.

a society callously neglectful of the poor

lax implies a blameworthy lack of strictness, severity, or precision.

a reporter lax about accurate quotation

slack implies want of due or necessary diligence or care.

slack workmanship

remiss implies blameworthy carelessness shown in slackness, forgetfulness, or neglect.

had been remiss in their familial duties

Examples of neglectful in a Sentence

Adjective he's certainly not a neglectful father as he takes very good care of his children
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
To do otherwise is neglectful and selfish. — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026 Parents could be accused of neglectful supervision if an underage child is left at home unattended. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 June 2026 The film condemns her horrific client experiences, including one in which she was raped, as well as the neglectful strip club manager who blamed her for not calling for help. — Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026 Many high performers are incredibly disciplined in business and remarkably neglectful of their own health. — Muhamad Aly Rifai, Forbes.com, 4 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for neglectful

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

neglect entry 2 + -ful entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1624, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of neglectful was in 1624

Rhymes for neglectful

See All Rhymes for neglectful

Browse Nearby Words

neglecter
neglectful
neglectfully
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Neglectful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neglectful. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

neglectful

adjective
ne·​glect·​ful ni-ˈglek(t)-fəl How to pronounce neglectful (audio)
: given to neglecting : careless
neglectfully
-fə-lē How to pronounce neglectful (audio)
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on neglectful

Nglish: Translation of neglectful for Spanish Speakers

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