willfully disregard

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "willfully disregard" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing an intentional act of ignoring or neglecting something, often in a legal or formal context. Example: "The defendant was found to willfully disregard the safety regulations set forth by the company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Perhaps it was this distraction, or the fact that the morning's many mentions of a gentle Mother Earth seemed to willfully disregard the 7.1 quake that had torn up the nearby desert only hours before.

The New York Times - Arts

It is the proverbial "Light at the end of the tunnel" that keeps drawing in those who willfully disregard facts that are not deemed good news.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"He has willfully disregarded Department regulations on the use of commercial email for official government business," the report said.

The New York Times

For it to succeed, Oren said it could require proving that the EPA willfully disregarded available science, its own rules or precedent.

The Washington Post

At issue in the trial is whether MP3.com willfully disregarded copyright law when it created an online database that included about 5,000 of the Universal recordings.

The New York Times

If the White House is calculating that this may stave off calls for even more serious protectionism, it is willfully disregarding its own record.

The New York Times

Of course, givers aren't willfully disregarding people's wishes for no reason they're likely signaling that they feel close enough to a recipient to not have to be told what gifts to buy.

University of California, Berkeley

Democrats, who opposed adoption of the report, have accused Republicans of prematurely shuttering the committee's year-long Russia investigation — and willfully disregarding evidence, they argue, demonstrates there was collusion.

The Washington Post

"Worse, the Order willfully disregards the destructive effects of reclassification on hundreds of billions of dollars in investment-backed reliance interests that the FCC's prior light-touch approach deliberately induced," UTA lawyers wrote.

The Guardian - Tech

Willfully disregarding the results of two Presidential elections, and repeating something he had already said dozens of times, he went on, "My plea to this body is that we listen to the American people".

The New Yorker

Felony Fights willfully disregards Palahniuk's third rule of Fight Club: "When someone says stop, or goes limp, even if he's just faking it, the fight is over".

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "willfully disregard", ensure the context clearly indicates a deliberate and conscious decision to ignore something, often with negative consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "willfully disregard" when the action is unintentional or due to oversight. The phrase implies a conscious and deliberate choice to ignore something, not a simple mistake.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "willfully disregard" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to describe a deliberate action of ignoring or neglecting something. The adverb "willfully" modifies the verb "disregard", emphasizing the intentional nature of the act. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "willfully disregard" is a grammatically sound and meaningful phrase used to describe the intentional act of ignoring something, often with negative consequences. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. Appearing primarily in news and academic contexts, the phrase is used to assign blame or highlight negligence in a somewhat formal register. Consider alternatives such as "deliberately ignore" or "intentionally overlook" to vary your language. Remember that the phrase implies a conscious choice, distinguishing it from unintentional oversights.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disregard with intent

Explicitly states the intent behind the disregard.

deliberately ignore

Focuses on the intentional act of ignoring.

ignore on purpose

Simplifies the phrase while retaining the meaning of intentionality.

intentionally overlook

Highlights the purposeful act of not noticing something.

consciously disregard

Emphasizes the awareness and intent behind the disregard.

purposely neglect

Indicates a deliberate failure to care for or attend to something.

knowingly disobey

Highlights the awareness and intentional violation of a rule or order.

blatantly flout

Suggests an open and unashamed disregard.

deliberately defy

Focuses on the intentional act of resisting or challenging.

turn a blind eye

Implies a knowing decision to ignore something wrong.

FAQs

How to use "willfully disregard" in a sentence?

Use "willfully disregard" to describe a situation where someone intentionally ignores or neglects a rule, warning, or responsibility. For example, "The company was accused of willfully disregarding safety regulations".

What can I say instead of "willfully disregard"?

You can use alternatives like "deliberately ignore", "intentionally overlook", or "consciously disregard" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "willfully disregard" or "unintentionally disregard"?

"Willfully disregard" is correct when describing an intentional action. "Unintentionally disregard" would be contradictory, as "willfully" implies intent. If the action was unintentional, use a phrase like "inadvertently overlook".

What's the difference between "willfully disregard" and "negligently disregard"?

"Willfully disregard" implies a conscious and deliberate choice to ignore something, whereas "negligently disregard" suggests a failure to pay proper attention, leading to unintentional disregard. The former carries a stronger connotation of intentional wrongdoing.