dereliction

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noun

Definition of 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, dereliction, heedlessness, incaution, incautiousness, laxness, neglectfulness, remissness, slackness

Related Words foolhardiness, rashness, recklessness, wildness; neglect, omission; delinquency, irresponsibility, irresponsibleness, malfeasance, malpractice, misconduct; misdirection, mishandling, mismanagement; forgetfulness, inadvertence, inadvertency, inattention, inattentiveness, obliviousness, shortsightedness, unwariness

Near Antonyms alertness, attention, attentiveness, awareness; circumspection, observance, vigilance, watchfulness; responsibility, responsibleness

Antonyms 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, dereliction, misprision, neglect, negligence, nonfeasance, oversight

Related Words carelessness, heedlessness, inadvertence, inadvertency, laxity

Near 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, dereliction, failing, foible, frailty, shortcoming, sin, vice, want, weakness

Related Words blot, spot, stain; blemish, deficiency, flaw, imperfection, minus, nit; Achilles' heel, soft spot; corruption, depravity, evil, immorality, sinfulness, wickedness

Near Antonyms excellence, perfection; goodness, integrity, morality, probity, rectitude, righteousness

Antonyms merit, virtue