1
as in neglectful
failing to give proper care and attention
the guards were judged derelict in their duty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 derelict
K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 13 June 2025
Lawns were overgrown; the historic chapel, which was built in 1913, by the firm that had just done Grand Central Terminal, was derelict.
—Paige Williams, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
Lévy found the derelict property on Le Bon Coin, the French equivalent of Craigslist.
—Rachel Howard, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2025
Two local guys had the idea of turning the derelict elevated railroad tracks into a garden walkway—the High Line.
—Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for derelict
Adjective
Located in the scrublands of eastern Utah, Blind Frog Ranch just seems like another derelict property with its better days behind it.
—K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 13 June 2025
Lawns were overgrown; the historic chapel, which was built in 1913, by the firm that had just done Grand Central Terminal, was derelict.
—Paige Williams, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
Lévy found the derelict property on Le Bon Coin, the French equivalent of Craigslist.
—Rachel Howard, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2025
Two local guys had the idea of turning the derelict elevated railroad tracks into a garden walkway—the High Line.
—Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for derelict
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derelict
Adjective
-
One of the children was discovered in a neglectful condition in August, according to court records.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
15 June 2025
-
Hinchliffe Stadium originally opened in 1932 and hosted the Negro Leagues’ New York Black Yankees and the American Soccer League’s New Jersey Eagles in the late 1980s before shuttering in 1996 after many neglectful years without maintenance and upkeep.—
Jeff Rueter,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
On his release, Stern went on to spend the 1950s ping-ponging between New York and California, for a time living on a disused laundry barge in Sausalito.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
3 Mar. 2025
-
One of the most powerful scenes in Sugarcane takes place in a disused barn where, over a period of decades, Indigenous children worked under the lash.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
8 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
This was all done with a bum wrist, which posed as an inconvenience to him at times.—
Hannah Kirby,
Journal Sentinel,
4 Aug. 2024
-
Tommy, left to prosecute the case against Rusty, has inherited a bum gig.—
Vinson Cunningham,
The New Yorker,
26 July 2024
Adjective
-
The 24-year-old man was charged with involuntary manslaughter, careless discharge causing death and a separate firearm charge, officials say.—
Mike Stunson,
Kansas City Star,
4 Aug. 2025
-
The plea deal dropped an additional charge of careless driving resulting in death from his case, court records show.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
2 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The beggars, widows, and families with sick relatives who once made a pilgrimage to the gates of the parliament building in the Green Zone to beg lawmakers for help are now barred from entry.—
Ned Parker,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Feb. 2012
-
All the beggars at the intersection of Lee Road and the off-ramp of I-4 are completely out of hand.—
Ticked Off,
Orlando Sentinel,
18 July 2024
Adjective
-
In water, adults enjoy Aurora’s partnership with SCUBA SHACK, Anguilla’s only PADI 5-Star Dive Resort, while kids find their heaven at the massive waterpark, complete with slides and a lazy river.—
Baz Dreisinger,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Nearby, Splash Resort draws families and retirees alike with spacious, beachfront units and kid-friendly perks like an indoor water park, a lazy river, and a dive-in movie theater.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
The team had a group task to accomplish, yes, but at every checkpoint, people had to make the decision to be selfish or selfless, and the selfish ones got rewarded while the selfless were left abandoned and miserable on the loch.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Extra hooks allow the bag to transform into a trapezoidal hobo shape.—
Joelle Diderich,
WWD,
19 Sep. 2024
-
There’s a lot to love about Coach’s viral shoulder bag: the modern hobo style, the soft leather, the distinct shape.—
Lindy Segal,
Glamour,
13 Sep. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Derelict.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derelict. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share