1
as in neglectful
failing to give proper care and attention
the guards were judged derelict in their duty
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disused
left unoccupied or unused
purchased an old derelict mansion that was rumored to be haunted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in bum
an idle worthless person
a section of the city that seemed to be frequented mostly by derelicts
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of derelict
Marci Robin, Allure, 3 Sep. 2025
That was enough to buy him a space on a derelict dinghy, with some 70 others, hoping soon to see England’s white cliffs.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2025
Tens of millions of lives have been upended from derelict disaster response, power outages, inhumane commute times, and the housing shortage.
—Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Same thing should happen for the derelict Democrats.
—Mandy Taheri
hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for derelict
Adjective
Others have suggested the US is derelict for not banning TPO.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 3 Sep. 2025
That was enough to buy him a space on a derelict dinghy, with some 70 others, hoping soon to see England’s white cliffs.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2025
Tens of millions of lives have been upended from derelict disaster response, power outages, inhumane commute times, and the housing shortage.
—Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Same thing should happen for the derelict Democrats.
—Mandy Taheri
hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for derelict
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derelict
Adjective
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In June 2024, a U.S. Senate Finance Committee released a report that exposed the abusive and neglectful practices of youth residential treatment facilities like the fictional Tall Pines Academy.—
Erin McMullen,
Time,
25 Sep. 2025
-
This film would have brought the Harlem Renaissance and its luminaries to far greater prominence, during an era that was often neglectful of that movement’s heroes—and of new Black artists, too, as Greaves himself experienced.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The easy route takes visitors along a disused rail line for a gentle jaunt in one of the Pacific Northwest's loveliest regions.—
Stacey Lastoe,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Sep. 2025
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Victoria's body was later found in a disused shed in Brighton inside a shopping bag, the outlet reported.—
Christine Pelisek,
PEOPLE,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Cora planned for his players to test the right fielder’s bum elbow — the Red Sox always attack pinstriped vulnerabilities on the basepaths — and sure enough Nick Sogard turned a single into a double in the seventh because Judge can’t throw the ball.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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Among them are South Korean’s CIA Director (Ryoo Seung-bum) and the Japanese Deputy Minister of Transport (Takayuki Yamada).—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But Thomas has been lazy all year and lost a catch Sunday being careless with his feet on what should have been an easy completion on the sideline, unable to get a second foot down with a lot of room.—
Michael Salfino,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
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The subsequent uncertainty and introspection are exacerbated during a pre-festival press conference, which becomes a flashpoint when the cast and crew come under fire for an allegedly careless adaptation.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Where to stay Set along an 11-mile stretch of deserted beach on Sardinia’s rugged Costa Verde, Le Dune Piscinas is framed by Europe’s tallest sand dunes, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.—
Chloe Arrojado,
AFAR Media,
26 Sep. 2025
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Today, the incredible deserted ruins of this once-powerful city, perched like a fortified eagle’s nest high in the mountains of southwestern Turkey, can be conquered by anyone willing to make the hike up here.—
Barry Neild,
CNN Money,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Brando, the owner of an atoll in Tahiti, where his family dwelled, had become the beggar of Hollywood, who had to feed on crumbs.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Sep. 2025
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Got a lot of mountains to climb, had to leave some beggars behind.—
Ilana Kaplan,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Grab one for your own couch to prepare for movie nights and lazy mornings, or stock up to get a head start on holiday shopping.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
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Sarin Mathews Women’s Sweatpants A comfortable pair of pants is a wardrobe essential for everything from long flights to lazy days at home.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Thousands of abandoned and derelict vessels around the US pose environmental and navigational challenges.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
12 Aug. 2025
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The 33 towns being considered for this project, which are expected to meet final approval in the coming weeks, are all on the brink of extinction with the number of empty and abandoned houses outnumbering those that are inhabited.—
Barbie Latza Nadeau,
CNN,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Derelict.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derelict. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.
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