default 1 of 2

as in negligence
the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action a default in the repayment of a bank loan

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

default

2 of 2

verb

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of default
Noun
The suit estimates that the collective financial damage from wrongful defaults could exceed $500 billion. Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025 Loan defaults and delinquencies are on the rise again among some of America’s most vulnerable. David Goldman, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
Instagram has installed a new privacy setting which will default all new and existing underage accounts to an automatic private mode. Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025 The researchers' findings show how recent AI models default to Western-style directness, completely missing the cultural cues that govern everyday interactions for millions of Persian speakers worldwide. ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for default
Recent Examples of Synonyms for default
Noun
  • Whether the courts view that rift as administrative failure or unlawful negligence may determine the financial futures of a generation of borrowers—and the credibility of the agency that lent to them.
    Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Zwerner has filed a $40 million negligence lawsuit against former Richneck Elementary Assistant Principal Ebony Parker.
    Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The same is true of Guiteau’s eventual imprisonment and trial, which aren’t ignored but barely touch on the wackiness that actually ensued.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
  • There were extremely rich philosophical traditions in the non-Western world that your great books classes completely ignore.
    Big Think, Big Think, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The failures of that occupation were many, relating to security, governance, the economy, and provision of basic municipal services.
    Ben Wedeman, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
  • My father had two superpowers that saved him in the face of all those failures—his talent for telling stories and gardening.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The Raine family’s lawyers will have to prove that OpenAI was aware of the risks posed by ChatGPT and disregarded them.
    Nikita Ostrovsky, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
  • This time, the environmental advocacy group contended that San Diego’s supplemental analysis of the visual impacts of taller buildings, prepared in advance of the 2022 ballot measure, disregarded other consequential environmental factors.
    Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Parker will appear in criminal court The civil verdict against Parker — who faces eight counts of felony child neglect in a criminal trial next month — provides a window into key evidence and arguments that will likely resurface when Parker appears in criminal court.
    Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
  • In a separate legal matter, Parker is facing criminal charges of felony child abuse and neglect for her alleged indifference.
    Gary Grumbach, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Pickleball wasn’t common before 2014, and database text fields were shorter before 2019, possibly omitting earlier cases.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2025
  • The father, who requested his name be omitted from this article, declined to comment.
    Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Democrats are also hoping to repeal cuts to health care programs that were put in place as part of the GOP spending and tax bill that passed over the summer.
    The NPR Network, NPR, 30 Oct. 2025
  • That move sparked outrage from refugee advocacy groups, who argued that people from other nations in the midst of conflicts were being passed over.
    Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Prince Harry also reportedly informed the royal family of his events in advance, so there would be no reason for anyone to feel slighted by his announcement.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 5 Nov. 2025
  • The subtext to the litigation is Oakley’s personal grievance against Dolan, whom the ex-player has long criticized, in part for slighting him compared to other Knicks legends.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 3 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Default.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/default. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.

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