neglectful
Failing in duty
Neglectful describes someone who fails to give proper care or attention to responsibilities or people in their charge: neglectful parents, neglectful of her duties.
The word carries moral weight—it implies not just forgetting but a pattern of carelessness that causes harm or deterioration.
A neglectful landlord lets buildings decay; a neglectful friend never returns calls.
Lacking sense of duty
- laxInsufficiently firm or rigorous
- sloppyCareless and untidy
- slipshodCareless and hasty
- heedlessCareless of consequences
reckless · imprudent · incautious · haphazard · unmindful · thoughtless · improvident · unthinking
Unable to concentrate
- obliviousLacking any awareness
- unobservantNot paying attention
- absentmindedInattentive to immediate surroundings
- unfocusedWithout clear direction
preoccupied · forgetful · scatterbrained · unaware · heedless · daydreaming · detached · spacey
Leaving permanently behind
- desertingAbandoning one's obligations
- forsakingRenouncing or abandoning completely
- defaultingFailing to repay debt
- shirkingAvoiding obligatory tasks
failing · omitting · delinquent · truant · absent · malfeasant · culpable · blameworthy
Feeling no worry
- apatheticWithout feeling or concern
- uncaringLacking emotional concern
- disregardfulIgnoring with intent
- dismissiveShowing contemptuous disregard
aloof · cold · detached · unfeeling · callous · insensitive · heartless · unresponsive
irresponsible
Lacking sense of duty
heedless · reckless · imprudent · incautious · haphazard · unmindful · thoughtless · improvident · unthinking · slack
distracted
Unable to concentrate
- obliviousLacking any awareness
- unobservantNot paying attention
- absentmindedInattentive to immediate surroundings
unfocused · preoccupied · forgetful · scatterbrained · unaware · heedless · daydreaming · detached · spacey · absent
abandoning
Leaving permanently behind
- desertingAbandoning one's obligations
- forsakingRenouncing or abandoning completely
- defaultingFailing to repay debt
shirking · failing · omitting · delinquent · truant · absent · malfeasant · culpable · blameworthy · liable
unconcerned
Feeling no worry
- apatheticWithout feeling or concern
- uncaringLacking emotional concern
- disregardfulIgnoring with intent
dismissive · aloof · cold · detached · unfeeling · callous · insensitive · heartless · unresponsive · nonchalant
- behaviorshabit, aggressive, agitation, conduct, passive
- parenting stylesauthoritative, authoritarian, permissive, attachment parenting, helicopter parenting
- detachmentemotional numbness, detached, dispassion, disengaged, indifference
- relationshipsfriends, romantic, family, friend, flirting
- inattentiondistracted, spacing, absent-minded, distraction, obliviousness
- traitshonesty, ambitious, brave, calm, kindness
neglectfulconscientious
Scrupulously careful and thorough
diligent · careful · responsible · meticulous · painstaking
- neglectful parentingInadequate attention to children's needs