DEFAULT Synonyms: 46 Similar and Opposite Words

default 1 of 2

noun

di-ˈfȯlt

Definition of default

as in negligence

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

default

2 of 2

verb

as in to ignore

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 Black Parade deluxe dropped in a week without many major new releases, and one in which the likely number-one-by-default candidates were all months-old releases without any brand-new boosts to speak of. — Eric Renner Brown, Billboard, 4 Nov. 2026 Now that 30 days have passed since she was served, the firm is again requesting the $295,605 as a default award. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2026

Verb

Movies, television, and college brochures still default to the classic image of the carefree co-ed moving into a dorm. — Ruth Bauer, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026 And in the fall, when so many guys can default to wearing blue, brown, gray, and khaki, the same can be said of our wardrobes. — Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for default

Recent Examples of Synonyms for default

Noun

Miller investigated whether negligence in Gwen’s care resulted in her death.

— Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica, 8 Nov. 2026
The lawsuit alleges excessive force, battery, negligence and violation of Maverick Lyon’s Fourth Amendment rights.

— Daniella Silva, NBC news, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of negligence

Noun

Obstacles, wind, sensor errors, or other system failures can prevent it from completing the maneuver safely.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2026
Coach Mikey Varas has spent the past week asking his players to confront their failure to reach the MLS Cup playoffs rather than simply count down the days until the offseason.

— Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of failure

Verb

This approach, Fel hopes, could be used to specify which information an AI should disregard, such as an applicant's gender when screening résumés.

— Harry Booth, Time, 5 Nov. 2026
Flock Safety is continuing to disregard whether a city cancels a contract or the police chief disables the company’s cameras.

— Joel Feder, The Drive, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of disregard

Noun

All of those children were known to the Department of Children and Families and had referrals for abuse or neglect.

— Kaitlin McCallum, Hartford Courant, 2 Nov. 2026
The building already has materials, dimensions, defects, histories, neighbors, owners, previous uses, and established patterns of maintenance or neglect.

— Julian Rose, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of neglect

Verb

Notably, the plan (for now, at least) omits a mission similar to Apollo 8 or Artemis II, which involved a crew flying out to the Moon and either entering orbit or passing close by before returning to Earth.

— Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 2 Nov. 2026
What’s most fascinating is determining which scenes hew closely to the final cut (Scream, for example) and which ones omit memorable details (Evil Dead II).

— Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of omit

Verb

Every songwriter has a trunk, and the trunk is full of songs that got tossed out of the show or were passed over when they were submitted or may have just not been finished.

— Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
While it isn't yet known exactly where any surviving pieces will land, Sladen noted that Swift's orbit only passes over a band within about 21 degrees of the equator.

— Leonard David, Space.com, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of pass over

Verb

Yet what follows is an extended list of ethical sins, with a focus on the sins of abusive speech, such as slandering, slurring, slighting and smearing the reputations of others.

— Reuven Kimelman, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026
The other four QBs peaked inside the top 10 last season, so they’ve all been slighted to a degree with the initial rankings of 2026.

— Jeff Howe, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of slight

Browse Nearby Words

defatted

default

defaulted

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Default.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/default. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of default

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

valorous

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes