Definition

1. Adverb:
   • In a negligent manner; characterized by a failure to take proper care or give proper attention. This describes performing an action with a lack of care, concern, or attention that a reasonable person would exercise, often leading to errors, omissions, or harm.

Usage and Examples

• General Use: Describes how an action is performed with carelessness or disregard.
  • The guard negligently left the main gate unlocked.
  • The report was prepared negligently, containing numerous factual errors.
  • He signed the contract negligently without reading the fine print.

Advanced Usage and Nuance

• Legal Context: Often used in legal settings to describe a standard of conduct that breaches a duty of care, potentially leading to liability for negligence.
  • The doctor was accused of acting negligently by failing to order standard tests.
• Implied Consequence: The adverb often implies that the careless action resulted in or could result in an undesirable outcome.
  • She parked negligently, blocking the driveway.

Variants and Related Words

• Negligent (Adjective): Characterized by or given to negligence; careless.
  • The court found the company was negligent in maintaining the equipment.
• Negligence (Noun): The failure to take proper care in doing something; the trait of being negligent.
  • The accident was caused by pure negligence.

Synonyms

• Carelessly
• Heedlessly
• Inattentively
• Thoughtlessly
• Recklessly (though this can imply a more conscious disregard for danger)

Antonyms

• Carefully
• Diligently
• Attentively
• Conscientiously
• Meticulously

Related Phrases and Idioms

• To act negligently: A common legal and formal phrase describing the manner of action.
  • The contractor acted negligently by using substandard materials.
• Negligently inflicted harm: A phrase used in legal discourse to describe damage caused by careless action.

Adverb

1. in a negligent manner
   • he did his work negligently