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Forgetful vs Neglect - What's the difference?

forgetful | neglect |

As an adjective forgetful

is unable to remember things well; liable to forget.

As a verb neglect is

to fail to care for or attend to something.

As a noun neglect is

the act of neglecting.

forgetful

English

Alternative forms

* forgetfull (archaic)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • unable to remember things well; liable to forget.
  • (math) Dropping some of the input's structure or properties before producing an output.
    • a forgetful''' mapping; a '''forgetful function

    Derived terms

    * forgetfully * forgetfulness

    neglect

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (label) To fail to care for or attend to something.
  • * (William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
    • I hope / My absence doth neglect no great designs.
  • * (John Milton) (1608-1674)
    • This, my long suffering and my day of grace, / Those who neglect and scorn shall never taste.
  • (label) To omit to notice; to forbear to treat with attention or respect; to slight.
  • (label) To fail to do or carry out something due to oversight or carelessness.
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2014-06-14, volume=411, issue=8891, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= It's a gas , passage=One of the hidden glories of Victorian engineering is proper drains.

    Derived terms

    * benign neglect * neglectful * neglectfully * neglectfulness

    Related terms

    * negligee * negligence

    Noun

  • The act of neglecting.
  • The state of being neglected.
  • Habitual lack of care.

    • Synonyms

    * carelessness * negligence