willful disregard

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "willful disregard" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in legal or formal contexts to describe a conscious or intentional neglect of a duty or responsibility. Example: "The defendant showed willful disregard for the safety regulations, leading to the accident."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

He added that the majority of Democrats and Republicans in the House want to avoid a government shutdown and will have to "confront the same kind of willful disregard for responsible government".

Huffington Post

Governments that do not prepare adequately — either through political inertia and underinvestment as in New Orleans, or willful disregard, as critics of the Myanmar junta charge — will continue to see tragic losses.

The New York Times

If a given trainee displays willful disregard for patient confidentiality after feedback is provided, the behavior will require a higher, more formal level of response by the program director or some other internal specific mechanism [ 28].

BMC Medical Education

"Do you think there was a willful disregard for the law?" Mr. Carlinksy asked.

The New York Times

The term labor of love is often used to refer to a task accomplished with willful disregard for financial reward.

The New York Times - Arts

Edward Follis, the former D.E.A. agent, told me that most American combat commanders showed the D.E.A. a "blatant and willful disregard".

The New Yorker

Jevtic's problem was that he could not achieve what Descartes demands of us: A willful disregard for that which we are sure of.

The New York Times - Sports

The board had judged Abuzzahab a danger to the public and suspended his license, citing "a reckless, if not willful, disregard of the patients' welfare".

The New Yorker

Yet there is also danger in employing cultural symbols of such power so blithely, with such a willful disregard for reality.

The New York Times - Arts

Mr. Murtaugh's suit charged that the fall was "caused solely by reason of carelessness, negligence, wanton and willful disregard" on the part of the Parks Department.

The New York Times

This week, State Representative Lon Burnam introduced an impeachment resolution against Judge Keller, accusing her of "gross neglect of duty" and "willful disregard for human life".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "willful disregard", ensure the context clearly demonstrates a conscious and intentional decision to ignore a responsibility or standard. This strengthens the impact of your statement and avoids misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "willful disregard" when describing unintentional oversights or accidental mistakes. Reserve it for situations where there's demonstrable evidence of a deliberate choice to ignore known obligations or risks. Distinguish between negligence and intent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "willful disregard" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It typically acts as the object of a verb or preposition, describing a specific type of intentional negligence or inattention. As Ludwig AI explains, this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "willful disregard" is a commonly used noun phrase that signifies a deliberate and conscious choice to ignore a duty, responsibility, or standard. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is grammatically correct and is most frequently found in news media, formal business, and scientific contexts. The phrase communicates condemnation or criticism, highlighting intentional negligence. While alternatives like "intentional neglect" or "deliberate indifference" exist, "willful disregard" effectively conveys the severity and intentional nature of the neglect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Intentional neglect

Emphasizes the conscious and planned nature of the neglect.

Deliberate indifference

Highlights a calculated lack of concern or empathy.

Conscious disregard

Focuses on the awareness and active choice to ignore something.

Reckless abandon

Suggests an impulsive and careless disregard for consequences.

Blatant disrespect

Underscores the open and offensive nature of the disregard.

Flagrant violation

Highlights the obvious and intentional breaking of rules or norms.

Wanton negligence

Emphasizes the unjustifiable and excessive lack of care.

Gross dereliction

Focuses on the severe failure to fulfill a duty or responsibility.

Criminal negligence

Implies that the disregard is so severe it warrants legal action.

Cavalier attitude

Suggests a dismissive and indifferent approach.

FAQs

How to use "willful disregard" in a sentence?

"Willful disregard" is used to describe a deliberate and conscious choice to ignore a duty, responsibility, or standard. For example, "The company's "willful disregard" for safety regulations led to the accident".

What can I say instead of "willful disregard"?

You can use alternatives like "intentional neglect", "deliberate indifference", or "conscious disregard" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "willful disregard" or "willful negligence"?

Both terms are valid, but they have different meanings. "Willful disregard" implies a conscious decision to ignore something, while "willful negligence" suggests a deliberate failure to exercise reasonable care.

What's the difference between "willful disregard" and "reckless disregard"?

"Willful disregard" involves a conscious decision to ignore a known risk or duty. "Reckless disregard", on the other hand, suggests a careless indifference to the potential consequences of one's actions, without necessarily intending to cause harm.