1
as in abandonment
the act of abandoning
the dereliction by the owners of a once flourishing orchard
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dereliction
On Friday, the regular session ended with no action on a state budget, a dereliction of duty that’s becoming increasingly common.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
The Arizona Republic cites records obtained from the El Paso PD that purportedly include allegations of insubordination, insufficiency, tardiness, and numerous disciplinary reviews related to accusations of excessive force, dereliction of duty, and off-duty gambling.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
This plan, during such a critical period, is nothing less than a dereliction of duty and a further sign of how the Congressional majority is content to be subservient to this administration.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026
The unlawful attacks and murders by the Department of Homeland Security are another dereliction of congressional oversight, and both should be stopped before further harm can be done.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dereliction
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
The Arizona Republic cites records obtained from the El Paso PD that purportedly include allegations of insubordination, insufficiency, tardiness, and numerous disciplinary reviews related to accusations of excessive force, dereliction of duty, and off-duty gambling.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
This plan, during such a critical period, is nothing less than a dereliction of duty and a further sign of how the Congressional majority is content to be subservient to this administration.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026
The unlawful attacks and murders by the Department of Homeland Security are another dereliction of congressional oversight, and both should be stopped before further harm can be done.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dereliction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dereliction
Noun
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Despite a mentality forged by military service, her abuelo is kind and affectionate, while her straight-shooting abuela gives her the explanation she’s long been denied for her mother’s abandonment, without sugar-coating it.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
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Expressed through a bold, imaginative aesthetic, the film invites adult audiences to connect with themes of abandonment, control and self-discovery.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Noun
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The lawsuit accuses federal agents of assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment, false arrest, and gross negligence.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
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Thai police charged a train driver with negligence after a crash on Saturday in central Bangkok killed eight and injured 32.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
17 May 2026
Noun
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The following morning, on May 10, Pierrecius, 32, was arrested and charged with child neglect causing great bodily harm, according to police.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
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John Cassidy explains why » More Top Stories Nearly two dozen kids living together in Los Angeles were found at risk of abuse and neglect.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
Noun
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The problem is having a setup around him that simultaneously platforms his strengths and covers for his weaknesses.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
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Israeli officials fear that lifting economic pressure – even partially – could stabilize the Iranian regime at a moment of weakness.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
Noun
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The core of the story is the desertion and betrayal of Roseanna McCoy by all concerned.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
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Furthermore, the Ukrainian army is short-handed, facing around 200,000 troop desertions and draft-dodging by around 2 million people, Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said in January.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Her chief lieutenants in this operation are Bronco (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Sid (Henry Cavill), who specialize in intimidation, surveillance, bribery, and other assorted sins.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
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First-time filmmakers can usually be forgiven some of these sins, only most viewers might not realize that this is Luna’s fifth go in the director’s chair.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
14 May 2026
Noun
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New research points to a mechanism within the Cascadia fault that could be accelerating a break.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
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That opacity serves a clear purpose, but Martelli is enamored by it to a fault, and Inés’ refusal to question the people around her or make any significant decisions beyond keeping her mouth shut eventually proves more trying than helpful.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
14 May 2026
Noun
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More bailouts would paper over the failings of federal regulation.—
Marc Scribner,
Washington Post,
13 May 2026
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Equally important is practicing self-care and self-compassion, which, Broder says, means treating yourself with kindness instead of judgment and recognizing that your patterns developed as a way to cope, not as a personal failing.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dereliction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dereliction. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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