benign neglect
noun
: an attitude or policy of ignoring an often delicate or undesirable situation that one is held to be responsible for dealing with
Examples of benign neglect in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But Trump hardly started this country’s venerable tradition of treating our most important trading partner with complacent, benign neglect.
—
Andrés Martinez, TIME, 26 Sep. 2024
Unlike so many houses in the Pines—subjected to ocean air and storm surges, the benign neglect of absentee owners, and the downright negligence of seasonal renters—this one proved pristine.
—Andrew Sessa, Architectural Digest, 22 July 2024
Instead of offering benign neglect, the United States and its partners would do well to prepare for contingencies that might arise from Pakistan’s potential political and economic disarray.
—Husain Haqqani, Foreign Affairs, 2 Aug. 2022
The mayor started talking a lot during the week about how officers on his watch have been proactively engaging with people underground who appear severely mentally ill instead of leaving them in a state of supposedly benign neglect.
—Harry Siegel, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for benign neglect 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Andrés Martinez, TIME, 26 Sep. 2024
Unlike so many houses in the Pines—subjected to ocean air and storm surges, the benign neglect of absentee owners, and the downright negligence of seasonal renters—this one proved pristine.
—Andrew Sessa, Architectural Digest, 22 July 2024
Instead of offering benign neglect, the United States and its partners would do well to prepare for contingencies that might arise from Pakistan’s potential political and economic disarray.
—Husain Haqqani, Foreign Affairs, 2 Aug. 2022
The mayor started talking a lot during the week about how officers on his watch have been proactively engaging with people underground who appear severely mentally ill instead of leaving them in a state of supposedly benign neglect.
—Harry Siegel, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for benign neglect
Dictionary Entries Near benign neglect
Cite this Entry
“Benign neglect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/benign%20neglect. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share