inattention
Failure to focus
Inattention is failure to pay attention or notice something.
It suggests a lapse rather than deliberate ignoring: The accident resulted from a moment of inattention.
Inattention to detail causes errors; inattention to a guest seems rude.
The word often implies neglect of something that deserved focus: His inattention to his health caught up with him.
Supervision or inadvertent omission
- omissionFailure to include
- lapseBrief failure or expiration
- derelictionAbandonment of duty
- abandonmentAct of leaving permanently
forgetfulness · remissness · disregard · failure · default · inadvertence · unmindfulness · heedlessness
Idle mental wandering
- distractedUnable to concentrate
- preoccupiedMentally elsewhere, not present
- spaceyAbsent-minded, unfocused
- woolgatheringAbsent-minded indulgence in fantasy
dreamy · mind-wandering · drifting · abstracted · vacant · bemused · unfocused · scatterbrained
Absence of feeling
- unconcernAbsence of worry
- disinterestAbsence of bias
- disregardWillful lack of attention
- nonchalanceCalm, casual composure
insouciance · aloofness · detachment · unresponsiveness · passivity · incuriosity · dismissiveness · complacency
Careless and untidy
- heedlessCareless of consequences
- slipshodCareless and hasty
- haphazardLacking organization or plan
- perfunctoryDone with minimal effort
imprecise · shoddy · unsystematic · reckless · hasty · lax · remiss · cavalier
Overseeing people or processes
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
- watchfulnessCareful, sustained attention
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
- inspectionFormal assessment of condition
audit · review · surveillance · vigilance · accountability · compliance · governance · regulation
Break in continuity
- noiseUnwanted auditory disturbance
- diversionRedirection of attention
- multitaskingDoing several things concurrently
- fidgetingRestless minor movements
restlessness · overstimulation · tangent · sidetracked · boredom · doodling · wandering · disruption
oversight
Supervision or inadvertent omission
- omissionFailure to include
- lapseBrief failure or expiration
- derelictionAbandonment of duty
abandonment · forgetfulness · remissness · disregard · failure · default · inadvertence · unmindfulness · heedlessness · ignorance
daydreaming
Idle mental wandering
- distractedUnable to concentrate
- preoccupiedMentally elsewhere, not present
- spaceyAbsent-minded, unfocused
woolgathering · dreamy · mind-wandering · drifting · abstracted · vacant · bemused · unfocused · scatterbrained · foggy
apathy
Absence of feeling
- unconcernAbsence of worry
- disinterestAbsence of bias
- disregardWillful lack of attention
nonchalance · insouciance · aloofness · detachment · unresponsiveness · passivity · incuriosity · dismissiveness · complacency · coolness
sloppy
Careless and untidy
perfunctory · imprecise · shoddy · unsystematic · reckless · hasty · lax · remiss · cavalier · thoughtless
supervision
Overseeing people or processes
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
- watchfulnessCareful, sustained attention
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
inspection · audit · review · surveillance · vigilance · accountability · compliance · governance · regulation · stewardship
interruption
Break in continuity
- noiseUnwanted auditory disturbance
- diversionRedirection of attention
- multitaskingDoing several things concurrently
fidgeting · restlessness · overstimulation · tangent · sidetracked · boredom · doodling · wandering · disruption · irrelevance
- being overlookedneglect, dismissal, unnoticed, oversight, disregard
- fatigue symptomsexhaustion, tiredness, drowsiness, sleepiness, yawning
- human flawsmistake, error, flaw, fault, failing
- mental statesknowledge, conscious, mood, anxious, memory
- Lapsesslip, slip-ups, error, mistakes, blunder
- ADHDADHD, hyperactivity, impulsivity, fidgeting, distractibility
inattentionattention
Focused mental awareness
concentration · focus · attentiveness · mindfulness · absorption
inattentioncare
Attentive regard for others
diligence · carefulness · heedfulness · prudence · conscientiousness
inattentionvigilance
State of keen awareness
watchfulness · alertness · wariness · surveillance · lookout