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Synonyms

inattentive

American  
[in-uh-ten-tiv] / ˌɪn əˈtɛn tɪv /

adjective

  1. not attentive; negligent.

    Inattentive or careless driving is a serious issue, and cell phones clearly contribute to it.
    Synonyms:
    thoughtless, slipshod, slapdash, remiss, regardless, neglectful, irresponsible, careless
    Antonyms:
    mindful, thoughtful, careful

  2. characterized by or exhibiting a lack of focus or concentration.

    Most children are occasionally inattentive, distractible, impulsive, or highly active.
    Synonyms:
    oblivious, faraway, dreamy, distracted, abstracted, absent-minded, absent, ditzy, unmindful, heedless, distrait, preoccupied
    Antonyms:
    mindful, thoughtful, careful
inattentive British  
/ ˌɪnəˈtɛntɪv /

adjective

  1. not paying attention; heedless; negligent

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • inattention noun
  • inattentively adverb
  • inattentiveness noun

Etymology

Origin of inattentive

First recorded in 1735–45; in- 3 + attentive

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In Europe, for example, where Musk has said he hopes to win approval for FSD as soon as February, carmakers are mandated to have effective strategies to warn inattentive drivers.

From BBC • Dec. 26, 2025

Humans are not just inattentive; they are irrational in a profoundly emotional sense.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2025

A new study calculates that exposure to car exhaust from leaded gas during childhood altered the balance of mental health in the U.S. population, making generations of Americans more depressed, anxious and inattentive or hyperactive.

From Science Daily • Dec. 4, 2024

Both conditions can make a child seem disorganized or inattentive; in the case of NVLD, it’s because they don’t understand the assignment being discussed.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 23, 2024

We looked for moments when the warders were inattentive.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.