deliberate neglect

USAGE SUMMARY

"deliberate neglect" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a situation where someone intentionally ignores or fails to address a responsibility or duty. An example: The company's deliberate neglect of safety regulations led to several accidents. Alternative expressions include "intentional oversight" and "willful disregard."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

For years they have let public transportation wither on the vine through deliberate neglect.

The New York Times

At the museum's annual meeting Mr. R. accused the Metropolitan with a deliberate neglect of modern art.

The New Yorker

After years of deliberate neglect, the Justice Department is finally beginning to enforce the federal law requiring states to provide voter registration at welfare and food stamp offices.

The New York Times

All buildings require upkeep, and in a sense the deliberate neglect of Brutalism had the same effect that starving public bureaucracies did.

The New York Times

Mr. Obama's clearly deliberate neglect of Washington's favorite obsession was just the latest sign that the self-styled deficit hawks — better described as deficit scolds — are losing their hold over political discourse.

The New York Times

"The reason for this tragedy is the deliberate neglect and absence of the military and the police," said Essam el Erian, a senior lawmaker from the Muslim Brotherhood's political arm, which leads the chamber.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Germany's staunch opposition to the Western-led regime change campaigns in Iraq and Libya, and its tendency to avoid partnerships with Israel's enemies, have prompted analysts to describe its Middle Eastern policy as one of deliberate "benign neglect".

Huffington Post

Housing campaigners have warned of a deliberate policy of neglect.

The Guardian

The scheme does not apply to communal areas such as hallways in blocks of flats or where repairs are needed because of deliberate damage or neglect by anyone living in the property.

The Guardian

He said much of the flooding was down to "almost a deliberate policy of neglect of the watercourses" that had seen the Environment Agency "putting birds first and people second", a reference to the agency's attempts to encourage more wetland areas in the UK to promote biodiversity.

The Guardian

He died after "deliberate and inhumane neglect", a report found.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "deliberate neglect", ensure the context clearly indicates that the neglect is intentional and not accidental. This adds weight to accusations of misconduct or mismanagement.

Common error

Avoid using "deliberate neglect" when the situation involves unintentional oversights or mistakes. "Deliberate neglect" implies a conscious choice to ignore or disregard something, not a simple error.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "deliberate neglect" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "deliberate" modifies the noun "neglect", indicating that the neglect is intentional and not accidental. Ludwig AI confirms its use across various contexts, emphasizing its descriptive power when attributing responsibility.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "deliberate neglect" is a commonly used phrase that indicates an intentional failure to fulfill a duty or responsibility. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct and frequently found in news, scientific, and business contexts. Its purpose is often to assign blame or highlight serious failures. While semantically similar phrases exist, such as "intentional disregard" and "willful negligence", it's crucial to ensure that "deliberate neglect" is used only when the neglect is demonstrably intentional, avoiding confusion with unintentional oversights. The phrase carries significant weight and should be deployed thoughtfully.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intentional disregard

Replaces "neglect" with "disregard", emphasizing a conscious decision to ignore.

willful negligence

Substitutes "deliberate" with "willful" and "neglect" with "negligence", highlighting a knowing failure to exercise due care.

calculated indifference

Uses "calculated" to reinforce the intentional aspect and "indifference" to denote a lack of concern.

conscious oversight

Replaces "neglect" with "oversight", suggesting an intentional failure to supervise or manage.

purposeful abandonment

Emphasizes the act of forsaking or giving up responsibility intentionally.

knowing dereliction

Uses "knowing" to stress awareness and "dereliction" to indicate a failure to fulfill a duty.

studied inattention

Implies a carefully planned lack of attention or care.

premeditated disregard

Highlights the pre-planned nature of the act of ignoring something.

systematic overlooking

Suggests a patterned or repeated act of neglecting something.

tactical omission

Uses "omission" and suggests a strategic or planned decision to leave something out or unattended.

FAQs

How can I use "deliberate neglect" in a sentence?

You can use "deliberate neglect" to describe situations where someone intentionally fails to fulfill a duty or responsibility. For example: "The company's deliberate neglect of safety regulations led to several accidents."

What are some alternatives to "deliberate neglect"?

You can use alternatives like "intentional disregard", "willful negligence", or "conscious oversight" depending on the specific context.

Is "deliberate neglect" the same as "simple neglect"?

No, "deliberate neglect" implies an intentional act of ignoring a responsibility, while simple neglect might be unintentional or due to oversight. The key difference is the intent behind the action.

In what contexts is "deliberate neglect" commonly used?

"Deliberate neglect" is often used in contexts involving accusations of misconduct, mismanagement, or abuse of power, particularly in news reports, academic analyses, and formal business communications.