Synonyms for inadvertence
Most common
negligence carelessness inattention thoughtlessness oversight
All synonyms
Noun
1. Carelessness — the state or quality of being inadvertent; inadvertency; heedlessness; carelessness; negligence
carelessness, negligence, inattention, thoughtlessness, neglect, heedlessness, inadvertency, unmindfulness, indifference
Other
Definitions
- n. 1
The state or quality of being inadvertent; inadvertency; heedlessness; carelessness; negligence.
Many mistakes proceed from inadvertence.
Forms
- Plural
- inadvertences → carelessnesses, negligences, inattentions, neglects…
Choose the right word
We miss seeing a thing through inadvertence when do not happen to look at it; through inattention when we give no heed to it, though directly before us. Inadvertence may be an involuntary accident; inattention is culpable neglect.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Example sentences
- negligence It is but a short step from negligence to complicity.
- carelessness The accident was due to the driver's carelessness.
- inattention Tom's inattention at the wheel cost him his life.
- thoughtlessness One hour of thoughtlessness can cause years of tears.
- oversight Tom said that the mistake was due to an oversight.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| inadvertence | falling | |
| negligence | falling | |
| carelessness | falling | |
| inattention | rising | |
| thoughtlessness | rising | |
| oversight | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 7 letters
- neglect2
- 9 letters
- oversight3
- 10 letters
- negligence3
- 11 letters
- inattention4
- 12 letters
- indifference4, carelessness3, heedlessness, inadvertency
- 13 letters
- unmindfulness
- 15 letters
- thoughtlessness
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (neglect2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- inadvertance
- Español
- descuido