All words

negligent

Meaning

Characterized by a lack of care or attention; failing to exhibit the degree of vigilance expected under the circumstances.

Examples by difficulty

Basic: Simple, everyday vocabulary — the easiest to read.

The teacher felt upset when she saw how negligent some parents were. Their children never had lunch or clean clothes. When she called about missing homework, they did not care. It was clear that these parents were marked by neglect, not just once but almost every day.

The dog shivered, alone and hungry. Its owner, too busy for walks or meals, was truly negligent. They showed no care, leaving the poor animal to suffer, a habit that was a bad fault.

When Sarah found her toddler covered in bruises after leaving him with a new babysitter, she realized the woman had been negligent. The dirty apartment, empty juice boxes scattered everywhere, and her child's tearful face made it clear the sitter had ignored his basic needs for hours.

Timmy was so negligent with his pet fish that he forgot to feed it for a whole week. When he finally remembered, his fish was learning to play dead just to get his attention. Even the plants in the tank sent him little notes begging for water!

Barnaby was so negligent with his chores, his room looked like a squirrel had thrown a rave. He'd habitually forget to take out the trash, leading to a smell so bad, even the flies wore tiny nose plugs.

Normal: Standard, everyday language.

Sarah was always so negligent when it came to locking the front door before she left for work. Every morning, she would rush out of the house in a hurry, forgetting to double-check that it was securely closed. This carelessness often led to her coming home to find the door wide open, leaving her belongings vulnerable to theft.

The homeowner had been repeatedly warned about the loose railings on their porch, yet they neglected to repair them. As a result, when a guest fell through the railings and was injured, the homeowner was found negligent and liable for damages.

The room was in shambles, the air thick with dust and decay. The walls were cracked, the ceiling crumbling, a neglected testament to years of neglect. A single flickering light bulb cast eerie shadows, revealing the negligent state of the place. The floor was littered with debris, broken furniture scattered haphazardly. It was clear that no one had set foot in this forsaken place for a long time. As I walked further into the darkness, a sense of dread washed over me, realizing that something sinister lurked in the neglected corners of this abandoned building.

In the dim twilight, a sinister figure lurked, its eyes glowing with malevolence. Carelessly, it left behind a trail of bloody footprints, marking its reckless path through the once-serene abode. The air grew heavy with a pungent odor, a testament to its negligent disregard for the sanctity of life. As the walls seemed to close in, whispering secrets of forgotten horrors, the realization dawned upon us: we had been forsaken by one who cared not for the consequences of their heinous acts.

In the kingdom of Eldoria, Princess Elara was known for her kind heart and gentle nature. However, her father, King Thorian, was often negligent in his duties as ruler. He neglected the needs of his people, allowing corruption to run rampant in the kingdom. Princess Elara tried to make up for her father's neglect by visiting the villages and helping the villagers in any way she could. But despite her efforts, the kingdom continued to suffer under King Thorian's negligent rule. Princess Elara knew that she would have to confront her father and convince him to change his ways for the sake of their people.

Advanced: Richer vocabulary that stretches an upper-level reader.

Because the manager was negligent, important safety checks were skipped week after week. Workers knew that he just did not care, and everyone felt uneasy. It was clear his habit of ignoring details was more than a mistake. His neglect put everyone in danger.

He was utterly negligent in his duties, forgetting vital appointments and leaving critical tasks undone. The consequences were severe, his carelessness causing significant hardship for everyone involved, proving his habitual disregard for his responsibilities.

The social worker sighed, reviewing the case file. A child's bruises and malnourished frame told a clear story of negligent parents who rarely checked on their children, leaving them hungry and isolated for days at a time. She knew intervention was critical.

When Marvin was put in charge of watering his neighbor’s cactus, his negligent habits quickly surfaced; not only did he forget to water it, he once dusted it with powdered sugar, causing the plant to sprout what looked suspiciously like tiny ant hats.

Barry, perpetually absent-minded, was negligent in his duties, often forgetting to feed the office goldfish, Bartholomew. This chronic oversight, while not malicious, was certainly culpable, as Bartholomew's mournful gurgles served as a constant, fishy indictment of Barry's forgetfulness.

Challenging: Rare, high-register vocabulary for serious word lovers.

After weeks of reminders, Sarah's supervisor realized her assistant was negligent with crucial tasks. Deadlines were routinely missed and instructions ignored, not just once but as a habit. This pattern of disregard led to lost opportunities and mounting frustration for the entire team.

The child's emaciated state spoke volumes; the guardians, clearly negligent, had habitually failed to provide basic sustenance, their culpability in his suffering starkly apparent. This pervasive neglect left him frail and despondent.

The social worker sighed, reviewing the file of a child who had been left in squalid conditions by negligent parents. Dirty dishes piled high, clothing was strewn across the floor, and the apartment reeked of neglect, painting a stark picture of systemic abandonment.

When Jerry, a notoriously negligent roommate, promised to water my rare bonsai, I should have anticipated disaster; by week's end, the tree looked less like a botanical marvel and more like a tragic, crispy homage to his habitually—and culpably—neglectful approach to both horticulture and personal hygiene.

Barnaby Buttercup, a connoisseur of naps and existential ennui, exhibited a remarkably negligent approach to personal hygiene; his domiciliary was a veritable necropolis of forgotten snacks, and his own appearance, frankly, was a testament to his profound indifference.

Difficulty

Normal — Everyday words worth reinforcing.

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