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
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
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
Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
However, in homes of varying sizes and seasons, a coat closet can become the default overflow for bedding and towels, especially when their dedicated closets are hard to reach or already full.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for default
Noun
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
Verb
For decades, the bathroom scale has been the default tool for tracking progress.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
However, in homes of varying sizes and seasons, a coat closet can become the default overflow for bedding and towels, especially when their dedicated closets are hard to reach or already full.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for default
Recent Examples of Synonyms for default
Noun
-
The district attorney's office is now pursuing two lesser charges against him — vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and child abuse/endangerment under circumstances or conditions likely to cause GBI or death — per the district attorney's news release.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Why timing matters Industry data shows that most coverage lapses occur not because of negligence but because of short-term cash shortages.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Over the summer the FDA convened a panel on the safety of certain antidepressants in pregnancy that tried to cast doubt on this research, ignoring the real harms of not treating depression or anxiety for pregnant people themselves and for their fetuses.—
Tanya Lewis,
Scientific American,
23 Oct. 2025
-
But the writers, like Noah and Joanne, are ignoring that fundamental fork in the road in favor of inane high jinks from the couple and their increasingly irksome friends and family.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Regarding the lack of disciplinary records documenting policy violations, Payne placed blame on prison staff for failure to write Holt up for disciplinary violations.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Oct. 2025
-
The failure to see this coming was an inexcusable Democratic strategic catastrophe.—
David Faris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 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
-
His girlfriend, Charlotte Kurek, 31, faces two counts of chronic child neglect, one of which resulted in death.—
Adrienne Davis,
jsonline.com,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Children enter foster care for reasons beyond their control – often because of abuse, neglect, or the ripple effects of addiction, incarceration, or untreated mental health conditions in their homes.—
Laura Rivera,
Denver Post,
23 Oct. 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
-
The worst of the storm is expected to have passed over Jamaica by Wednesday morning.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Democrats argue legislation to reopen the government should also extend expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies and reverse Republicans’ Medicaid cuts passed over the summer.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The head coach has seen firsthand what his former quarterback can do when he's slighted.—
Jordan Sigler,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Jones, again, slighted the punt coverage with a 61-yard return to the Carolina 14-yard line.—
Mike Kaye
September 28,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Default.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/default. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share