dereliction

1 the act of abandoning the family's shameful dereliction of their pets at the end of the summer season Synonyms abandonment, desertion, forsaking Related Words defection; tergiversation; discard, dumping, jettisoning Near Antonyms retention; recoupment, repossession, retrieval Antonyms reclamation

2 failure to take the care that a cautious person usually takes the ski area was not held responsible for the injury on account of the skier's own manifest dereliction Synonyms carelessness, negligence, heedlessness, incaution, incautiousness, laxness, neglectfulness, remissness, slacknessRelated Words foolhardiness, rashness, recklessness, wildness; neglect, omission; delinquency, irresponsibility, irresponsibleness, malfeasance, malpractice, misconduct; misdirection, mishandling, mismanagement; forgetfulness, inadvertence, inadvertency, inattention, inattentiveness, obliviousness, shortsightedness, unwarinessNear Antonyms alertness, attention, attentiveness, awareness; circumspection, observance, vigilance, watchfulness; responsibility, responsiblenessAntonyms care, carefulness, caution, cautiousness, heedfulness

3 the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action both sentries were to be court-martialed for dereliction of duty Synonyms default, delinquency, failure, misprision, neglect, negligence, nonfeasance, oversightRelated Words carelessness, heedlessness, inadvertence, inadvertency, laxityNear Antonyms compliance, discharge, fulfillment (or fulfilment)

4 a defect in character believes that society is guilty of a moral dereliction if it does not care for those unable to care for themselves Synonyms demerit, fault, failing, foible, frailty, shortcoming, sin, vice, want, weaknessRelated Words blot, spot, stain; blemish, deficiency, flaw, imperfection, minus, nit; Achilles' heel, soft spot; corruption, depravity, evil, immorality, sinfulness, wickednessNear Antonyms excellence, perfection; goodness, integrity, morality, probity, rectitude, righteousnessAntonyms merit, virtue