Discard vs. Disregard — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 6, 2023
Discard means to throw away; disregard means to ignore or pay no attention to.
Difference Between Discard and Disregard
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Discard and disregard both imply a form of rejection, but they apply to different objects and contexts. To discard is to throw something away because it is no longer useful or desirable. Discarding has a physical connotation, often involving tangible items. Disregard, on the other hand, is less about physical disposal and more about mentally dismissing something. It implies ignoring advice, warnings, or not paying attention to something deemed irrelevant or unimportant.
Discard can imply a physical action; it's what one might do with trash or something that has lost its usefulness. Disregard does not involve a physical action but rather an intellectual or emotional one, where a person might ignore or overlook information, feelings, or facts. Discard is a definitive act of removal, whereas disregard is an act of neglect or inattention.
Discard has the sense of getting rid of, while disregard is about not giving due consideration. When you discard something, you remove it from your possession. When you disregard something, you are consciously choosing to pay it no mind. Discard relates to objects, whereas disregard often relates to non-tangible concepts such as advice or instructions.
The decision to discard comes after an item has been evaluated and deemed unnecessary, while the choice to disregard may come before or without any evaluation of the potential importance or relevance of something. Discard ends the physical life of an object within a person's space; disregard ends or prevents the influence of a concept or piece of information on a person's decision or behavior.
Comparison Chart
Definition
To throw away or remove.
To ignore or pay no attention to.
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Context
Typically used for tangible items.
Used for both tangible and intangible objects, often ideas or advice.
Action
Physical act of throwing out.
Mental act of not considering.
Connotation
Finality in dealing with unwanted items.
Choice to not acknowledge something.
Outcome
Removal from one’s environment.
Maintenance of status quo due to inattention.
Compare with Definitions
Discard
To eliminate from consideration.
The scientist had to discard several hypotheses before finding a suitable one.
Disregard
To show no consideration for something.
She would disregard the rules and do what she felt was right.
Discard
To throw something away as useless.
She decided to discard her old furniture before moving.
Disregard
To pay no attention to; ignore.
He decided to disregard the weather forecast and go sailing.
Discard
To remove a card from one's hand in a card game.
He had to discard a queen, leaving him without a match.
Disregard
To overlook or dismiss.
You can't simply disregard the facts of the case.
Discard
To leave behind or abandon something or someone.
They had to discard excess gear to lighten the load.
Disregard
To fail to care for or honor.
They disregard safety procedures in their haste to complete the work.
Discard
To throw away; reject.
Disregard
To treat as unimportant or without respect.
He was known to disregard others’ opinions during meetings.
Discard
To throw out (a playing card) from one's hand.
Disregard
To pay no attention or heed to; ignore
We disregarded your advice.
Discard
To play (a card other than a trump) from a suit different from that of the card led.
Disregard
To show no evidence of attention concerning (something)
Conduct that disregards risks to others.
Discard
To discard a playing card.
Disregard
To treat without proper respect or attentiveness.
Discard
The act of discarding in a card game.
Disregard
Lack of thoughtful attention or due regard.
Discard
A discarded playing card.
Disregard
The act or state of deliberately not paying attention or caring about; misregard.
The government's disregard for the needs of disabled people is outrageous.
Discard
One that is discarded or rejected.
Disregard
(transitive) To ignore; pay no attention to.
Discard
(transitive) To throw away, to reject.
Disregard
Not to regard; to pay no heed to; to omit to take notice of; to neglect to observe; to slight as unworthy of regard or notice; as, to disregard the admonitions of conscience.
Studious of good, man disregarded fame.
Discard
To make a discard; to throw out a card.
Disregard
The act of disregarding, or the state of being disregarded; intentional neglect; omission of notice; want of attention; slight.
The disregard of experience.
Discard
To dismiss from employment, confidence, or favour; to discharge.
Disregard
Lack of attention and due care
Discard
Anything discarded.
Disregard
Willful lack of care and attention
Discard
A discarded playing card in a card game.
Disregard
Refuse to acknowledge;
She cut him dead at the meeting
Discard
(programming) A temporary variable used to receive a value of no importance and unable to be read later.
Disregard
Bar from attention or consideration;
She dismissed his advances
Discard
7: With .NET and .NET Core (page 120)
Disregard
Give little or no attention to;
Disregard the errors
Discard
To throw out of one's hand, as superfluous cards; to lay aside (a card or cards).
Discard
To cast off as useless or as no longer of service; to dismiss from employment, confidence, or favor; to discharge; to turn away.
They blame the favorites, and think it nothing extraordinary that the queen should . . . resolve to discard them.
Discard
To put or thrust away; to reject.
A man discards the follies of boyhood.
Discard
To make a discard.
Discard
The act of discarding; also, the card or cards discarded.
Discard
Anything that is cast aside or discarded
Discard
(cards) the act of throwing out a useless card or to failing to follow suit
Discard
Getting rid something that is regarded as useless or undesirable
Discard
Throw or cast away;
Put away your worries
Discard
To reject an idea or plan.
After some thought, he decided to discard the proposal.
Common Curiosities
Is discarding always intentional?
Typically, yes; discarding is a deliberate action.
Can you disregard someone's feelings?
Yes, disregarding feelings means not considering them.
Can "discard" refer to non-physical items?
Rarely, it is usually used for physical items.
Does discarding have emotional implications?
It can, especially if what’s discarded has sentimental value.
Can businesses discard or disregard customers?
Businesses can discard items but typically disregard customer feedback if it’s negative.
Does disregard imply disrespect?
It can, depending on the context and the nature of what is being disregarded.
Can disregarding something be a positive action?
It can be, if what is disregarded is harmful or irrelevant.
Does discarding involve cleaning up?
It often does, as it’s about getting rid of the unwanted.
Can "disregard" apply to advice?
Yes, you can disregard advice by not following it.
Is disregarding something always negative?
Often, but sometimes it can be necessary to disregard distractions.
Is there a way to discard ideas?
Metaphorically, yes; by choosing not to pursue or consider them.
What is a synonym for disregard?
Ignore, overlook, or neglect.
Can discard be a noun?
Yes, in card games, "discard" refers to cards that have been thrown away.
Can disregard lead to problems?
Yes, disregarding important information can result in issues.
What is a synonym for discard?
Throw away, jettison, or dispose of.
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Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
