AI

Google search struggles to define words like 'disregard', 'stop', and 'ignore'

SiliconFeed Editorial
GooglesearchAI Overviewsdefinitionsglitch

Sections and tags — in the Topics menu Search the feed

At a glance:

  • Google search is currently struggling to provide definitions for words like 'disregard', 'stop', and 'ignore'
  • The search engine is instead displaying AI Overviews with a lot of blank space
  • Google has acknowledged the issue and is working on a fix

What happened

Google appears to be running into some hiccups after the company began rolling out its updated, and even more AI-focused search experience at I/O 2026. Currently, searching for the words 'disregard,' 'stop' or 'ignore' on Google no longer displays a snippet with a definition, and instead offers an AI Overview and a lot of blank space.

Multiple members of Engadget's staff were able to recreate the strange AI Overview responses with their own personal Google searches. In Incognito Mode, Google responded correctly once by displaying its usual snippet with the definition, and failed a second time by once again responding with an AI Overview. Links to online dictionaries still appear under these incorrect results, but you have to scroll past an AI Overview or a grid of articles to actually get to them.

Google's response

Engadget contacted Google for more information. The company responded acknowledging the issue and said a fix was incoming: 'We're aware that AI Overviews are misinterpreting some action-related queries, and we're working on a fix, which will roll out soon,' a spokesperson said.

Implications

In the grand scheme of things, Google not automatically displaying a definition isn't as bad as recommending people put glue on pizza, one of the issues the company dealt with when it first launched AI Overviews. It might even be good for Merriam-Webster's web traffic. What the issue does highlight is the awkward transition Google is currently undergoing, as it moves from the ultimate referrer of other websites into all-in-one AI assistant.

Update

Update, May 22 2026, 5:45PM ET: This story was modified after publish to include a statement from a Google spokesperson on the issue.

Editorial SiliconFeed is an automated feed: facts are checked against sources; copy is normalized and lightly edited for readers.

FAQ

What is the issue with Google search?
Google search is currently struggling to provide definitions for words like 'disregard', 'stop', and 'ignore'. Instead of displaying a snippet with the definition, the search engine is showing AI Overviews with a lot of blank space.
Has Google acknowledged the problem?
Yes, Google has acknowledged the issue and stated that they are working on a fix, which will be rolled out soon.
How does this issue highlight Google's transition?
The issue highlights the awkward transition Google is currently undergoing, as it moves from being the ultimate referrer of other websites to an all-in-one AI assistant.

More in the feed

Prepared by the editorial stack from public data and external sources.

Original article