dilapidated

1 of 2

adjective

di·​lap·​i·​dat·​ed də-ˈla-pə-ˌdā-təd 

: decayed, deteriorated, or fallen into partial ruin especially through neglect or misuse

a dilapidated old house

dilapidated

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of dilapidate

Did you know?

Something that is dilapidated may not have been literally pummeled with stones, but it might look that way. Dilapidated derives (via the English verb dilapidate) from dilapidatus, the past participle of the Latin verb dilapidare ("to squander or destroy"). That verb was formed by combining dis-, meaning "apart," with the verb lapidare, meaning "to pelt with stones." Other English descendants of lapidare include the verb lapidate ("to pelt or kill with stones") and the noun lapidary, which is used to refer to a person who cuts or polishes precious stones. Both words share as a root the Latin noun lapis, meaning "stone." We also find lapis in the name lapis lazuli, a bright blue semiprecious stone.

Synonyms of dilapidated

Adjective

• neglected
• abandoned
• desolate
• miserable
• tattered
• shabby
• tumbledown

Examples of dilapidated in a Sentence

Adjective

a dilapidated car that had seen better days

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Riner’s announcement follows in the wake of weeks of civil unrest across France sparked by students protests over staff shortages and dilapidated schools in September. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 9 Nov. 2026

All of that came to a head aboard the dilapidated Honour 25, where a monthslong standoff came to a violent end last month. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026

Foreign buyers and investment funds have pushed up prices by buying Portuguese properties, including dilapidated buildings. — ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026

And the theater where Penélope Cruz’s Nené performs cabaret for the Nationalist troops was a dilapidated cinema that had been closed since the 1950s. — Elaina Patton, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see dilapidate

First Known Use

Adjective

1565, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dilapidated

• abbreviated
• accelerated
• accentuated
• accommodated
• acculturated
• accumulated
• acidulated
• adjudicated
• administrated
• adulterated
• affiliated
• agglomerated

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Kids Definition

dilapidated

adjective

di·​lap·​i·​dat·​ed

də-ˈlap-ə-ˌdāt-əd

: partly ruined or decayed especially from age or lack of care

a dilapidated old house