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neglectful
[ ni-glekt-fuhl ]
adjective
- characterized by neglect; disregardful; careless; negligent (often followed by of ):
neglectful of one's health.
Synonyms: thoughtless, heedless, inattentive, remiss
Antonyms: thoughtful, careful
neglectful
/ nɪˈɡlɛktfʊl /
adjective
- whenpostpositive, foll by of not giving due care and attention (to); careless; heedless
Derived Forms
- neˈglectfully, adverb
- neˈglectfulness, noun
Other Words From
- ne·glectful·ly adverb
- ne·glectful·ness noun
- over·ne·glectful adjective
- over·ne·glectful·ly adverb
- over·ne·glectful·ness noun
- prene·glectful adjective
- self-ne·glectful adjective
- unne·glectful adjective
- unne·glectful·ly adverb
Word History and Origins
Origin of neglectful1
Example Sentences
It doesn’t matter whether DeJoy’s management is incompetent, neglectful, sinister or merely not up to the task.
"Women are raised in a different way," DeGeneres says, before sharing a personal moment about growing up in a neglectful home, and having OCD and ADD.
The inquest heard that while doctors missed a sepsis diagnosis for Daniel, the trust was not neglectful in its care.
What has changed is the growing sense that a rural way of life is not valued and that the economic struggles it faces are the result of neglectful government policies.
While the quest, if successful, would have benefited the Valley-based paper financially, Kaye firmly believed that the downtown bureaucracy was detached and neglectful.
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More About Neglectful
What does neglectful mean?
Neglectful is used to describe people who have neglected someone or something, meaning they’ve failed to pay enough attention or have not done enough to provide proper care.
Neglectful is often followed by the word of and the person or thing being neglected, as in I’m afraid I’ve been neglectful of my duties. Neglectful can also be used to describe such a person’s actions, as in Their parenting is neglectful at best.
Describing someone as neglectful of objects or things usually means that they haven’t maintained such things properly. To be neglectful of your car is to fail to make sure it gets the maintenance it needs to keep running properly. To be neglectful of your health is to fail to do anything to maintain it. To be neglectful of your duties is to disregard them, often due to being preoccupied with other things.
When it’s used in the context of people, neglectful implies a lack of attention and care. When you’re neglectful of a friend or romantic partner, it means you don’t spend enough time with them or you fail to consider or care about their emotional needs. When the word is used in relation to the care of children, it describes someone who has failed to properly care for them in a way that’s equivalent to mistreatment or abuse. The word negligent can be a synonym and is based on the same root.
The adjective neglectful can be used to describe a person who neglects or their actions. The word neglected can also be used as an adjective, as in neglected children.
Example: After years of neglectful treatment, these pets are being adopted into loving homes.
Where does neglectful come from?
The first records of the word neglectful come from the 1600s. Its base word, neglect, comes from the Latin neclēctus, from the verb neglegere, meaning “to disregard, ignore, slight.”
Being neglectful of things typically involves letting them fall into a state of disrepair or decay. Being neglectful of people is often more serious, and can involve physical or emotional neglect or both. The opposite of being neglectful is being attentive and providing the proper care.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to neglectful?
- neglectfully (adverb)
- neglectfulness (noun)
- neglect (verb, noun)
What are some synonyms for neglectful?
What are some words that share a root or word element with neglectful?
What are some words that often get used in discussing neglectful?
How is neglectful used in real life?
Neglectful can be used in a variety of situations. When it’s used in relation to children, it usually implies abuse.
Learning that I attracted partners who were unappreciative and neglectful because I was unappreciative and neglectful of myself.
— Indy 🌻 (@MsAriesMoon) November 10, 2020
"That you are neglectful of your duties, in that you are a habitual reader of books and magazines, and seem reluctant to cease reading long enough to wait on the patrons."
From William Faulkner's performance review during his (brief tenure) as a postman.
https://t.co/44Xh2sbfpM— Literary Hub (@lithub) September 25, 2018
Life is insanely busy. And I am brutally neglectful of my garden. Luckily, these natives don’t seem to mind. So, as the world goes mad, and some of its citizens are desperately disappointing, sometimes unpretentious Australian beauty is a salve. Have a lovely weekend, everyone. pic.twitter.com/rU7aVspPf2
— Louise Milligan (@Milliganreports) November 6, 2020
Try using neglectful!
Which of the following actions could be described as neglectful?
A. failing to give attention
B. failing to give proper care
C. failing to give emotional support
D. all of the above
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