If someone is remiss, they are careless about doing things which ought to be done.
[formal]
I would be remiss if I did not do something about it.
[Also + in]
Synonyms: careless, negligent, neglectful, culpable More Synonyms of remiss
remiss in British English
(rɪˈmɪs)
adjective(postpositive)
1.
lacking in care or attention to duty; negligent
2.
lacking in energy; dilatory
Derived forms
remissly (reˈmissly)
adverb
remissness (reˈmissness)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Latin remissus from remittere to release, from re- + mittere to send
remiss in American English
(rɪˈmɪs)
adjective
1.
careless in, or negligent about, attending to a task; lax in the performance of duty
2.
characterized by carelessness or negligence
3. Rare
not energetic; languid
SYNONYMY NOTE: remiss implies the culpable omission or the careless or indifferent performance of a taskor duty [remiss in one's obligations]; negligent, neglectful both imply failure to attend to something sufficiently or properly, but , negligent often stresses this as a habit or trait [negligent in dress], and neglectful carries an implication of intentional and culpable disregard [a mayor neglectful of pledges made to the voters]; derelict implies flagrant neglect of a duty or obligation; , lax implies looseness in satisfying or enforcing requirements, observing standards orrules, etc. [lax discipline]; slack1, in this connection, implies lack of necessary diligence, efficiency, etc., as becauseof laziness or indifference [slack service in a restaurant]
Derived forms
remissly (reˈmissly)
adverb
remissness (reˈmissness)
noun
Word origin
L remissus, pp. of remittere: see remit
Examples of 'remiss' in a sentence
remiss
I see David's family so rarely, and the rest of you have been most remiss about producing a new generation.
Melville, Anne THE HARDIE INHERITANCE (2003)
She had been so remiss, so timid in her guilt, but now she would make up for it.
Appiganesi, Lisa DREAMS OF INNOCENCE (2003)
`And I'm sure that Joan Jaspert will do everything possible to help, if only to demonstrate to me how maternally remiss I am.
Thomas, Rosie THE WHITE DOVE (2003)
Also, I was so remiss as to tape an interview that was shown on Cuban television.
Michael Gruber TROPIC OF NIGHT (2003)
(adjective)
Definition
careless in attention to duty or responsibility
(formal)
I would be remiss if I did not do something about it.
Synonyms
careless
Office workers are notoriously careless about their passwords.
negligent
The jury ruled that the Council had acted in a negligent manner.
neglectful
Children who are neglected tend to become neglectful parents.
culpable
slow
regardless
slack
Many publishers have simply become far too slack.
indifferent
People have become indifferent to the suffering of others.
sloppy (informal)
I won't accept sloppy work from my students.
derelict
They would be derelict in their duty not to pursue it.
lax
One of the problems is lax security for airport personnel.
delinquent (formal)
delinquent parents who let their children run wild
thoughtless
It was thoughtless of her to mention it.
tardy
forgetful
My mother has become very forgetful recently.
slapdash
a slapdash piece of work
heedless
She scattered the letters about in her heedless haste.
slipshod
The hotel had always been run in a slipshod way.
lackadaisical
inattentive
These children were more likely to be inattentive at school.
dilatory
They performed their work in a dilatory fashion.
slothful
unmindful
Opposites
careful
,
attentive
,
painstaking
,
diligent
,
scrupulous
Additional synonyms
in the sense of delinquent
delinquent parents who let their children run wild
Synonyms
negligent,
slack,
indifferent,
careless,
thoughtless,
neglectful,
heedless,
inattentive,
remiss (formal)
in the sense of derelict
They would be derelict in their duty not to pursue it.
Synonyms
negligent,
slack,
irresponsible,
careless,
lax,
remiss (formal)
in the sense of dilatory
Definition
tending or intended to waste time
They performed their work in a dilatory fashion.
Synonyms
slow,
delaying,
lingering,
putting off,
slack,
backward,
sluggish,
dallying,
loitering,
time-wasting,
laggard,
tardy,
procrastinating,
tarrying,
snail-like,
behindhand
Nearby words of
remiss
reminisce
reminiscences
reminiscent
remiss
remission
remit
remittance
Synonyms of 'remiss'
remiss
Explore 'remiss' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of forgetful
Definition
tending to forget
My mother has become very forgetful recently.
Synonyms
absent-minded,
vague,
careless,
neglectful,
oblivious,
lax,
negligent,
dreamy,
slapdash,
heedless,
slipshod,
inattentive,
unmindful,
apt to forget,
having a memory like a sieve
in the sense of heedless
Definition
taking no notice
She scattered the letters about in her heedless haste.
Synonyms
careless,
reckless,
negligent,
rash,
precipitate,
oblivious,
foolhardy,
thoughtless,
unthinking,
imprudent,
neglectful,
inattentive,
incautious,
unmindful,
unobservant
in the sense of inattentive
Definition
not paying attention
These children were more likely to be inattentive at school.
Synonyms
preoccupied,
distracted,
careless,
negligent,
dreamy,
regardless,
vague,
thoughtless,
absent-minded,
slapdash,
neglectful,
heedless,
slipshod,
remiss (formal),
unmindful,
unobservant,
unheeding,
distrait,
ditzy or ditsy (slang)
in the sense of indifferent
Definition
showing no concern or interest
People have become indifferent to the suffering of others.
Synonyms
unconcerned,
distant,
detached,
cold,
cool,
regardless,
careless,
callous,
aloof,
unimpressed,
unmoved,
unsympathetic,
impervious,
uncaring,
uninterested,
apathetic,
unresponsive,
heedless,
inattentive,
not giving a monkey's (slang)
in the sense of lax
Definition
lacking firmness
One of the problems is lax security for airport personnel.
Synonyms
slack,
casual,
careless,
sloppy (informal),
easy-going,
negligent,
lenient,
slapdash,
neglectful,
slipshod,
remiss (formal),
easy-peasy (slang),
overindulgent
in the sense of neglectful
Definition
not paying enough care or attention
Children who are neglected tend to become neglectful parents.
Synonyms
careless,
indifferent,
lax,
negligent,
uncaring,
thoughtless,
heedless,
inattentive,
remiss (formal),
unmindful,
disregardful
in the sense of negligent
The jury ruled that the Council had acted in a negligent manner.
Synonyms
careless,
regardless,
slack,
thoughtless,
inadvertent,
unthinking,
forgetful,
slapdash,
neglectful,
heedless,
slipshod,
inattentive,
remiss (formal),
unmindful,
disregardful
in the sense of slack
Definition
careless in one's work
Many publishers have simply become far too slack.
Synonyms
negligent,
lazy,
lax,
idle,
easy-going,
inactive,
tardy,
slapdash,
neglectful,
slipshod,
inattentive,
remiss (formal),
asleep on the job (informal)
in the sense of slapdash
Definition
careless or hasty
a slapdash piece of work
Synonyms
careless,
sloppy (informal),
hasty,
disorderly,
hurried,
last-minute,
messy,
clumsy,
negligent,
untidy,
haphazard,
perfunctory,
thoughtless,
thrown-together,
slovenly,
slipshod
in the sense of slipshod
Definition
(of an action) done in a careless way without attention to detail