willfully ignored

USAGE SUMMARY

"willfully ignored" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use this phrase to describe someone who chose to not pay attention, even though they knew what was expected. Example: Even though his boss had specifically requested the report to be finished by the end of the day, he willfully ignored her instructions.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Or had they willfully ignored it?

Harvard University

Here's my recap: The government willfully ignored commonsense, and manufactured a debate about something obviously illegal.

The New York Times

It is a distinction that the Bush administration, goaded by immigration extremists, has willfully ignored.

The New York Times

"Instead, Congress willfully ignored the ramifications of its actions, just as it did in repealing Glass-Steagall".

The New York Times

[Racked NY] Cheating on Fire Department exams in 2006 may have been willfully ignored, an assistant fire commissioner said.

The New York Times

It is not the magnitude of the incident that makes it so enduring, ugly or willfully ignored.

The New York Times - Books

"It's about creating alternative archives and alternate ways of recognizing that which has been forgotten or willfully ignored," he said.

The New York Times - Arts

My predecessor willfully ignored their objections, I promised a fresh consultation and I am a man of my word.

The Guardian

According to the complaint, they "willfully ignored and were deliberately indifferent to overwhelming evidence of plaintiffs' actual innocence".

The New York Times

The Postal Service finds itself on the brink of financial extinction because for some 15 years postal management willfully ignored this communications revolution.

The New York Times

In Suskind's telling, Geithner, as Treasury secretary, willfully ignored the idea, defying the president and possibly committing "fireable offenses" that were "perilously close to insubordination".

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "willfully ignored", ensure the context clearly indicates that the subject was aware of the thing they were ignoring. This phrase implies knowledge and intention.

Common error

Avoid using "willfully ignored" when the subject's lack of awareness is genuine. "Willfully" indicates a conscious and deliberate choice to ignore, not a simple oversight or lack of information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "willfully ignored" functions as a verb phrase, typically used as part of a predicate to describe an action taken by a subject. It indicates a deliberate and conscious decision to disregard or overlook something. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

29%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "willfully ignored" is a commonly used and grammatically sound verb phrase that expresses a deliberate and conscious decision to disregard something. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it's considered correct in written English. The phrase is most frequently encountered in "News & Media", followed by Academic contexts, indicating its widespread use in objective and critical reporting. When using this phrase, ensure that the subject's intentionality is clear, as it implies awareness and a conscious choice to ignore. Related phrases like "deliberately overlooked" and "intentionally disregarded" offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deliberately overlooked

Replaces "ignored" with "overlooked", implying a conscious decision to not notice something.

intentionally disregarded

Substitutes "ignored" with "disregarded", emphasizing a deliberate act of not paying attention.

consciously neglected

Uses "neglected" to highlight the awareness of the thing ignored and a purposeful failure to address it.

purposely overlooked

Replaces "ignored" with "overlooked", signifying a goal-oriented decision to not notice something.

knowingly turned a blind eye

Employs an idiomatic expression to convey the act of intentionally ignoring something.

turned a deaf ear on purpose

Uses a metaphor to highlight intentionally failing to listen and act upon information.

blatantly disregarded

Adds "blatantly" to emphasize the obviousness of what was ignored.

openly disregarded

Replaces "willfully ignored" with "openly disregarded", which focuses on the visible nature of ignoring.

persistently neglected

Highlights the ongoing nature of the neglect, indicating repeated ignoring.

flagrantly disregarded

Uses "flagrantly" to stress a brazen and shocking disregard.

FAQs

How can I use "willfully ignored" in a sentence?

You can use "willfully ignored" to describe a situation where someone knowingly chose to disregard something important. For example, "The company "willfully ignored" safety regulations, leading to the accident."

What are some alternatives to "willfully ignored"?

Some alternatives include "deliberately overlooked", "intentionally disregarded", or "consciously neglected", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

What does "willfully" mean in the context of "willfully ignored"?

In this context, "willfully" means done deliberately and intentionally. It emphasizes that the act of ignoring was a conscious choice, rather than an accident or oversight.

Is there a difference between "willfully ignored" and "negligently ignored"?

Yes. "Willfully ignored" implies a deliberate choice to ignore something, whereas "negligently ignored" suggests a failure to pay attention due to carelessness or lack of diligence. The former indicates intention, while the latter indicates a lack of proper care.