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Intermediate Dictionary
       

ne·glect

neglect

 
 
pronunciation:
n glekt
parts of speech:
verb, noun
features:
Word History, Word Explorer, Word Parts
part of speech: verb
inflections: neglects, neglecting, neglected
definition 1: to pay too little or no attention to.
Claude was so busy with work that he neglected his friends.Don't neglect your studies.
synonyms:
disregard, ignore, overlook, slight
antonyms:
heed, regard
similar words:
avoid, shun, snub
definition 2: to fail to take proper care of.
Dan neglected his goldfish, and some of them died.
synonyms:
shun
antonyms:
foster, look after, maintain, pamper, provide, support, tend, watch
similar words:
abandon, desert
definition 3: to fail to do or perform.
Do not neglect your duty.
synonyms:
avoid, evade, shirk, slack
antonyms:
fulfill, keep, remember
similar words:
forget, ignore
 
part of speech: noun
definition 1: an act, instance, or result of neglecting.
The starving cats were victims of neglect.
synonyms:
carelessness, disregard, oversight, slackness
antonyms:
care
similar words:
passivity, slight, snub
definition 2: the condition of being neglected.
The vacant house lay in neglect.
synonyms:
abandonment
similar words:
failure
derivations: neglectedly (adv.), neglectedness (n.), neglecter (n.)
Word History
The origin of the word neglect is neglectus, a Latin word that means "to not pick up or select."
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