DERELICTION Synonyms: 108 Similar and Opposite Words

dereliction

noun

ˌder-ə-ˈlik-shən

Definition of dereliction

as in abandonment

the act of abandoning the dereliction by the owners of a once flourishing orchard

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in negligence

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 & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in neglect

the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action both sentries were to be court-martialed for dereliction of duty

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in weakness

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 & 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 dereliction The budget represents a double dereliction of duty by the state’s political leadership. — Dan Walters, Mercury News, 9 July 2026 Bramshill called Nieporte’s claims fabricated and said he isn’t owed any money, adding that his termination was due to dereliction of duty, according to the Journal. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 5 July 2026 Scott Quigley is another poster boy for MSP dereliction of duty. — Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 30 June 2026 This dereliction of duty from the current head of the office is costing the county tens of millions of dollars in lost interest. — Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for dereliction

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dereliction

Noun

Many have described him as deeply insecure, haunted by fears of abandonment that trace back to the earliest chapters of his life.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026
This summer, when wildfires erupted in Spain, France, and other parts of Europe, experts cited land abandonment as a factor.

— Ingfei Chen, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of abandonment

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

Definition of negligence

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

Definition of neglect

Noun

Similarly, behavioral assessments also shed light on potential weaknesses, such as poor communication skills or a tendency to avoid conflict, which can be addressed proactively.

— Karla Vallecillo, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026
This ambitious tripartite structure comes with strengths and weaknesses.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of weakness

Noun

Mary Cormier and David Butts, of Scott, were arrested and charged with second-degree cruelty to juveniles, child desertion, and contributing to the delinquency of juveniles, the Scott Police Department said in a statement.

— KC Baker, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026
This is a melodrama of malicious secrets and manipulative lies that may lead to divorce, desertion and even death.

— Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of desertion

Noun

The Duke of Sussex’s speech was marred by a fault with the teleprompter, forcing him to complete it in two halves.

— Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2026
Recently, Qnetic completed its first 100 continuous charge-discharge cycles with zero faults or degradation, a key indicator of its reliability.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of fault

Noun

Sussman is inclined to see such preferences as further evidence of capitalism’s moral failings.

— Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
Following Tuesday’s inquest, Metropolitan Police said that an internal review had found failings in its investigation into Heklina’s death but disputed claims that homophobia played a part in how its investigation was handled.

— Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of failing

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derelict

dereliction

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“Dereliction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dereliction. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of dereliction

noun

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