as in negligence
failure to carefully think about, listen to, or watch someone or something
Many traffic accidents are the result of driver inattention. They lost several potential clients through their inattention to detail.
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Recent Examples of inattention
During a moment of inattention, an enormous wave of insane people rolled over us and buried us deep beneath them.
—
Ian Frazier,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Many involved inattention, inexperience or lack of preparation, issues that can be addressed before a boat ever leaves the dock.
—
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
Voter inattention to the issue has contributed to frequent presidential overreach in flexing the muscles of the commander in chief.
—
James Cramer,
Baltimore Sun,
11 May 2026
That agreement resolved a union grievance addressing what the union regarded as administrative overreach and inattention to employees mired in lengthy investigations and disciplinary proceedings.
—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
5 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for inattention
Ian Frazier,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Many involved inattention, inexperience or lack of preparation, issues that can be addressed before a boat ever leaves the dock.
—
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
Voter inattention to the issue has contributed to frequent presidential overreach in flexing the muscles of the commander in chief.
—
James Cramer,
Baltimore Sun,
11 May 2026
That agreement resolved a union grievance addressing what the union regarded as administrative overreach and inattention to employees mired in lengthy investigations and disciplinary proceedings.
—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
5 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for inattention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inattention
Noun
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In other words, if that water heater explodes, then the investor will be personally sued for negligence in not replacing it, and the liability shield of the real property company is thus circumvented.
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The passengers are accusing Delta of negligence, negligence per se and a violation of the Montreal Convention.
Noun
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Attorneys representing inmates there said the facility’s culture of violence and inattentiveness led to two suicides and at least 10 severe beatings and stabbings in its final year of operation.
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That inattentiveness to cleaning the floor extended to the bottom shelf of a kitchen prep table and the top shelf of a prep table next to the cookline, each shelf dotted with 100 rodent droppings.
Cite this Entry
“Inattention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inattention. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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