Standard Lemma guide

uncared-for

adj · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

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Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

Lacking care; neglected.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 1685, John Norris, (translator), The Institution and Life of Cyrus the Great [Cyropaedia] by Xenophon, London: Matthew Gilliflower and James Norris, Book 8, p. 133, For, for the most part the Captains of ten take Care of their ten, and the Captains of the Regiments take Care of the Captains of ten, the Tribunes take Care of the Captains of the Regiments, and the Captains of ten thousand take care of the Tribunes. By which means it comes to pass that among so many thousands none are left uncared for [...]
  • 1858, George Eliot, “Mr. Gilfil’s Love Story,” Chapter 5, in Scenes of Clerical Life, London: William Blackwood & Sons, Volume 1, p. 272, [...] hidden and uncared for as the pulse of anguish in the breast of the tiniest bird that has fluttered down to its nest with the long-sought food, and has found the nest torn and empty.
  • 1903, W. E. B. Du Bois, The Souls of Black Folk, Chicago: A. C. McClurg, Chapter 7, “Of the Black Belt,” p. 117, [...] now only the black tenant remains; but the shadow-hand of the master’s grand-nephew or cousin or creditor stretches out of the gray distance to collect the rack-rent remorselessly, and so the land is uncared-for and poor.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adjective

Meaning 2

lacking needed care and attention

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: cared-for

History

Etymology

From un- + cared for.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Greek: απεριποίητος (aperipoíitos) — Translations
  • Hungarian: gondozatlan — Translations
  • Hungarian: elhanyagolt — Translations
  • Polish: zaniedbany — Translations