Definition of delinquencynext
1
as in negligence
the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action we received a notice in the mail informing us of our delinquency in paying our utility bill

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2
as in lateness
the quality or state of being late delinquency of our mortgage payment meant that we would have to pay a surcharge

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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 delinquency Officials with the Ponce City Market developer said their delinquency was a mix-up, and the nearly $200,000 balance has since been paid. — Shaddi Abusaid, AJC.com, 18 Sep. 2026 Ruiz, who lives in Catawba, has been charged with two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, aiding and abetting underage possession of alcohol, and underage possession of alcohol, officials said. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 15 Sep. 2026 About 12% of Oklahoma student loans remained in delinquency in the first quarter of 2026, according to a WalletHub analysis of TransUnion data. — Raynee Howell, Oklahoma Watch, 12 Sep. 2026 Milei has offered little sympathy for struggling Argentines, blaming the surge in delinquencies on irresponsible spending. — Débora Rey, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for delinquency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delinquency
Noun
  • One is the legal stuff that’s going on—all this liability and product-liability and negligence stuff is starting to gain ground very much like the cigarette.
    — Victoria Feng, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2026
  • In early August, the surviving Waithe daughter sued Kara, Zhuldasov and Next Level Express, alleging negligence and reckless conduct.
    — John Kelly, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Given our lateness, only a few things would be deemed worthy enough to delay getting to the census site.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • On July 6, reports stated that Harry was offered and had accepted an invite to stay at Buckingham Palace—but the invite was reportedly rescinded due to the lateness of his RSVP.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 20 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • After all, people today eat hard candy, open bottles with their teeth, neglect to brush and floss.
    — Pien Huang, NPR, 19 Sep. 2026
  • On social media and in legal filings, animal advocates complain that the 50-block zone in downtown Los Angeles that’s home to thousands of unhoused people is an epicenter of animal neglect and cruelty.
    — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Eckhart — who also appeared on Fox News and Fox Nation during her career — was fired from Fox in June 2020, in what the network said was due to tardiness, disclosure of a proprietary graphics package and misappropriation of company resources.
    — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Last school year, truancy and tardiness were the top two most prevalent infractions, per the presentation.
    — Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The move to junk grade territory from BB+ to BB highlighted the project’s vulnerability to default.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Leaders who compress timelines without adjusting quality expectations are making a quality decision by default rather than by design.
    — Nacho De Marco, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • It is built the same way that the figure skater builds a routine or the running back learns to explode through a crack in the line—repetition after repetition, failure after failure, with no shortcut available and no machine that can stand in.
    — Dan Rockmore, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026
  • That makes preventing deployment and routing failures especially important as these fleets expand.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The discussions also focused on editorial oversight of CBS News and CNN, a key concern for East Coast attorneys general.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026
  • And two bills by Assemblymember Diane Papan (D-San Mateo) will require oversight of data center water consumption.
    — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Delinquency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delinquency. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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