neglect
Failure to tend
Neglect is failure to give proper attention or care to something or someone.
You can neglect your health, your duties, or your children.
The noun names this failure: The garden fell into neglect.
Neglect implies ongoing inattention rather than a single oversight—a pattern of not doing what should be done.
He neglected to mention he was married uses the verb for a pointed omission.
Absence of feeling
- unconcernAbsence of worry
- disinterestAbsence of bias
- detachmentSeparation or emotional uninvolvement
- coldnessLow temperature state
disregard · inattention · unresponsiveness · aloofness · dismissiveness · insensitivity · nonchalance · dispassion
Not noticed or considered
- ignoredPurposely not noticed
- unnoticedNot perceived by anyone
- missedFailed to reach
- skippedWent past without stopping
forgotten · unaddressed · unattended · unfulfilled · incomplete · gap · deficiency · absence
Poor maintained condition
- decayGradual organic breakdown
- dilapidationState of ruin
- ruinComplete destruction or collapse
- degradationDecline in condition
crumble · erosion · atrophy · decline · rundown · worsening · shabby · ramshackle
Supervision or inadvertent omission
- lapseBrief failure or expiration
- irresponsibilityFailure to meet obligations
- remissnessCulpable lack of care
- slacknessAbsence of tautness
dereliction · inadvertence · inattentiveness · default · laxity · sloppiness · recklessness · imprudence
Abandon completely
- desertionUnlawful abandonment of duty
- forsakenCompletely abandoned or discarded
- abandonedLeft behind completely
- orphanChild whose parents died
estrangement · disown · relinquish · cast aside · left behind · discarded · unwanted · rejected
apathy
Absence of feeling
- unconcernAbsence of worry
- disinterestAbsence of bias
- detachmentSeparation or emotional uninvolvement
coldness · disregard · inattention · unresponsiveness · aloofness · dismissiveness · insensitivity · nonchalance · dispassion · heedlessness
overlooked
Not noticed or considered
skipped · forgotten · unaddressed · unattended · unfulfilled · incomplete · gap · deficiency · absence · disregarded
disrepair
Poor maintained condition
- decayGradual organic breakdown
- dilapidationState of ruin
- ruinComplete destruction or collapse
degradation · crumble · erosion · atrophy · decline · rundown · worsening · shabby · ramshackle · decrepit
oversight
Supervision or inadvertent omission
- lapseBrief failure or expiration
- irresponsibilityFailure to meet obligations
- remissnessCulpable lack of care
slackness · dereliction · inadvertence · inattentiveness · default · laxity · sloppiness · recklessness · imprudence · unmindfulness
forsake
Abandon completely
- desertionUnlawful abandonment of duty
- forsakenCompletely abandoned or discarded
- abandonedLeft behind completely
orphan · estrangement · disown · relinquish · cast aside · left behind · discarded · unwanted · rejected · unclaimed
- wrongdoingmisconduct, crime, sabotage, crimes, misbehavior
- bad behaviorslying, cheating, stealing, rudeness, gossiping
- bad decisionsprocrastination, impulse buying, overspending, binge eating, cramming
- being overlookeddismissal, unnoticed, oversight, disregard, snub
- causes of damagestress, trauma, pollution, abuse, infection
- disfavordisapproval, dislike, disdain, contempt, scorn
neglectcare
Attentive regard for others
nurture · cherish · tend · look after · pamper
neglectupkeep
Ongoing preservation effort
maintain · preservation · conservation · keep up · repair
- emotional neglectFailure to meet feeling-needs
- criminal neglectProsecutable failure of duty
- child neglectFailure to care for minors
- parental neglectFailing to care for dependents
- neglected childYouth without proper care
- medical neglectFailure to provide healthcare
neglected, neglectful, neglecting, neglects, neglectfulness, neglectfully