Definitions

look the other way

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condone v.
disregard v.
ignore v.
neglect v.
overlook v.
sneeze at v.

VERB

condone

Synonyms

STRONGEST

excuse forget forgive ignore wink at

STRONG

buy disregard okay overlook pardon remit

WEAK

give green light go along with lap up let it come let it go by let pass nod at pass over

Antonyms

STRONG

attend deny refuse regard respect veto

WEAK

censure condemn forbid not allow prevent

VERB

disregard

Synonyms

STRONGEST

disobey forget neglect omit overlook

STRONG

cold-shoulder contemn despise discount disdain disparage fail miss overpass pooh-pooh scorn slight snub vilipend

WEAK

blink at brush aside brush away brush off have no use for laugh off leave out of account let go let off easy let pass live with pass over pay no attention to pay no heed to pay no mind shut eyes to take no notice of tune out turn a blind eye turn a deaf ear wink at

Antonyms

STRONGEST

regard remember

STRONG

admire approve compliment flatter like love praise succeed

WEAK

attend esteem note pay attention respect

VERB

ignore

Synonyms

STRONGEST

avoid discount fail forget neglect overlook reject scorn

STRONG

blink cold-shoulder disdain evade omit pooh-pooh slight wink

WEAK

be oblivious to brush off bury one's head in sand let it go overpass pass over pay no attention to pay no mind shut eyes to take no notice tune out turn back on turn blind eye turn deaf ear

Antonyms

STRONGEST

accomplish achieve approve attend complete finish succeed

STRONG

praise

WEAK

acknowledge heed look at note notice pay attention recognize regard take notice

VERB

neglect

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bypass discard disregard overlook

STRONG

defer dismiss elide evade miss omit overleap overpass postpone procrastinate shirk skimp skip suspend trifle

WEAK

be careless be derelict be irresponsible be negligent be remiss gloss over let pass let slide lose sight of not trouble oneself pass over think little of

Antonyms

STRONGEST

attend regard respect

STRONG

advance complete continue do expedite face finish forward maintain meet take on

WEAK

accomplish achieve cherish concern guard nurture protect succeed take care of watch

VERB

overlook

Synonyms

STRONGEST

disregard ignore

STRONG

condone excuse forgive handle stomach take whitewash

WEAK

bear with blink at go along with grin and bear it let bygones be bygones let go let pass live with pay no mind play past put up with roll with punches stand for swim with the tide tune out turn blind eye to wink at wipe the slate clean

Antonyms

STRONGEST

note pay attention regard

STRONG

censure refuse reject

WEAK

attend deny follow heed honor look at notice prevent respect serve veto

VERB

sneeze at

Synonyms

WEAK

blink at brush aside brush away brush off discount have no use for laugh off let pass overlook pass over pay no attention to pay no heed to pay no mind shut eyes to slight snub take lightly take no notice of turn a blind eye turn a deaf ear

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

look the other way

For 47 years Americans preferred to look the other way.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 15, 2026

But I can just look the other way to some degree.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 4, 2024

“What is undeniable — for those who don’t look the other way — is that it has repeatedly violated those standards over the last 7 months.”

From Salon ● Sep. 24, 2024

“They kind of treated me as persona non grata. They would look the other way when I would come into the office. It got better eventually.”

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 16, 2024

Many in the government, including Mr. de Klerk, chose to look the other way or ignore what they knew was going on under their noses.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

look the other way

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Related Words