1
as in abandonment
the act of abandoning
the dereliction by the owners of a once flourishing orchard
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
3
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
4
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dereliction
Watching a patient suffer feels like a dereliction of duty to many health care workers.
—
Daniel T. Kim, The Conversation, 4 Feb. 2025
Okay, that seems like a dereliction of duty.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2025
The implication is that this dereliction explains why the institution is inert and unresponsive to the American people.
—Lorelei Kelly, The Conversation, 24 Jan. 2025
Even those who generally supported Carlsen were shocked, seeing it not as an example of sportsmanship but as dereliction.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dereliction
Daniel T. Kim, The Conversation, 4 Feb. 2025
Okay, that seems like a dereliction of duty.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2025
The implication is that this dereliction explains why the institution is inert and unresponsive to the American people.
—Lorelei Kelly, The Conversation, 24 Jan. 2025
Even those who generally supported Carlsen were shocked, seeing it not as an example of sportsmanship but as dereliction.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dereliction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dereliction
Noun
-
Volunteers advocate for children who have been removed from their home from either abuse, abandonment or neglect.—
Joe Rassel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 May 2025
-
The children’s parents — identified as a 53-year-old German man and his 48-year-old American wife, who also owned a German passport — were arrested and charged with domestic violence with habitual psychological abuse and child abandonment, according to police, per ABC.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
People.com,
1 May 2025
Noun
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Reasonable limits on liability • Exclusions for gross negligence or willful misconduct Tip: Always read these clauses carefully and ask your attorney to explain them in plain English.—
Stephen Nalley,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
-
In a more extreme case, an 81-year-old hunter was deemed liable for negligence after accidentally shooting someone while out pheasant hunting in South Windsor in 2023.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
6 May 2025
Noun
-
By law, the president can only fire members for cause, such as neglect of duty or malfeasance.—
Andrea Hsu,
NPR,
16 May 2025
-
Izquierdo decides emotionally wrenching cases involving abuse and neglect where a child’s custody is at stake.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
15 May 2025
Noun
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With a newfound sense of self, Murderbot is forced to hide its disgust for human weakness and emotion.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
16 May 2025
-
Proton Mail encourages you to save a recovery key in the form of a lengthy code and a QR code, but that recovery key itself now becomes a weakness.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
14 May 2025
Noun
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Lucia accuses Maggie of desertion at one point in this week’s episode despite Maggie not actually trying to desert.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
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Last February, a Russian anti-war project named Get Lost, which was created to help Russia's men evade or escape conscription in Ukraine, said cases of desertion from the military had increased tenfold that year.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
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If Sam is wrong, his journalistic sin is unpardonable.—
Neal B. Freeman,
National Review,
13 May 2025
-
Harrison’s sin is not trading Doncic, but demanding so little in return from the Lakers.—
Mac Engel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 May 2025
Noun
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Rand argues that the studios are at fault, and that giving them more taxpayer money is not the answer.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
14 May 2025
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The self-healing capability would enable the grid quickly to isolate and repair faults, reduce the time needed to restore power after outages, and prevent blackouts—reducing the impacts of energy disruptions.—
Deborah Wince-Smith,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
Noun
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Each name is steeped in its own history and connotations, linked to the achievements or failings of the previous popes or saints who carried it.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
4 May 2025
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Tshisekedi’s party often blames outside forces for failings of its own making, and is affiliated with mobs of young men, known as the Forces of Progress, who have been accused of bullying his opponents.—
Nicolas Niarchos,
New Yorker,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dereliction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dereliction. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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