forgetful

[ fer-get-fuhl ]

adjective

1. apt to forget; that forgets:

   a forgetful person.

   Synonyms: unmindful, inattentive, absent-minded

2. heedless or neglectful (often followed by of ):

   to be forgetful of others.

3. bringing on oblivion:

   forgetful slumber.

forgetful

/ fəˈɡɛtfʊl /

adjective

1. tending to forget
2. often postpositivefoll byof inattentive (to) or neglectful (of)
3. poetic.
   causing loss of memory

Derived Forms

• forˈgetfully, adverb
• forˈgetfulness, noun

Other Words From

• for·getful·ly adverb
• for·getful·ness noun
• quasi-for·getful adjective
• quasi-for·getful·ly adverb
• unfor·getful adjective
• unfor·getful·ly adverb
• unfor·getful·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of forgetful¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; forget, -ful

Example Sentences

With each passing year, I see and hear the patient’s spiral of worry: Am I getting more forgetful?

From Los Angeles Times

As The New York Times reported earlier this month, the former president's speeches have “grown darker, harsher, longer, angrier, less focused, more profane and increasingly fixated on the past,” the former president more than once appearing “confused, forgetful, incoherent or disconnected from reality.”

From Salon

The New York Times this week finally published a front-page story calling attention to Trump’s age and pointing out how frequently Trump “has seemed confused, forgetful, incoherent or disconnected from reality lately,” complete with actual unhinged quotes from his rallies and a linguistic statistical analysis of Trump’s speech patterns and most frequently used exaggerations and lies.

From Salon

Maybe he was wounded, misidentified, forgetful of who he was.

From Los Angeles Times

Instagram and Snapchat were just two of the many platforms that had pledged to help forgetful, regretful netizens save their nominally temporary posts as long-lasting memories.

From Slate

Related Words

• careless
• distracted
• inattentive
• sloppy