dereliction

1 the act of abandoning <the family's shameful dereliction of their pets at the end of the summer season> Synonyms abandonment, desertion, forsaking Related Words defection; tergiversation; discard, dumping, jettisoning Near Antonyms retention; recoupment, repossession, retrieval Antonyms reclamation

2 failure to take the care that a cautious person usually takes <the ski area was not held responsible for the injury on account of the skier's own manifest dereliction> Synonyms carelessness, negligence, heedlessness, incaution, incautiousness, laxness, neglectfulness, remissness, slacknessRelated Words foolhardiness, rashness, recklessness, wildness; neglect, omission; delinquency, irresponsibility, irresponsibleness, malfeasance, malpractice, misconduct; misdirection, mishandling, mismanagement; forgetfulness, inadvertence, inadvertency, inattention, inattentiveness, obliviousness, shortsightedness, unwarinessNear Antonyms alertness, attention, attentiveness, awareness; circumspection, observance, vigilance, watchfulness; responsibility, responsiblenessAntonyms care, carefulness, caution, cautiousness, heedfulness

3 the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action <both sentries were to be court-martialed for dereliction of duty> Synonyms default, delinquency, failure, misprision, neglect, negligence, nonfeasance, oversightRelated Words carelessness, heedlessness, inadvertence, inadvertency, laxityNear Antonyms compliance, discharge, fulfillment (or fulfilment)

4 a defect in character <believes that society is guilty of a moral dereliction if it does not care for those unable to care for themselves> Synonyms demerit, fault, failing, foible, frailty, shortcoming, sin, vice, want, weaknessRelated Words blot, spot, stain; blemish, deficiency, flaw, imperfection, minus, nit; Achilles' heel, soft spot; corruption, depravity, evil, immorality, sinfulness, wickednessNear Antonyms excellence, perfection; goodness, integrity, morality, probity, rectitude, righteousnessAntonyms merit, virtue