as in neglect
lack of use
despite the long years of desuetude, the old manual typewriter seemed to work just fine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 desuetude
New England travel writer and physician Jonathan Brown visited Sans-Souci in the 1830s, long after the king’s suicide in 1820, when the palace had been completely pillaged and had fallen into utter desuetude.
—
Marlene Daut, Harper's BAZAAR, 8 Oct. 2021
Some passengers, however, seem to have moved beyond our technological limitations to a conceptual world where human drivers have fallen into desuetude.
—Peter Jakubowicz, Wired, 4 Sep. 2021
This Customs guidance has gone entirely unenforced for decades, but it was reissued — perhaps to keep it from desuetude — by the Obama administration in its final years.
—Eugene Kontorovich, Washington Post, 17 July 2017
Glenn Close returns to the role of Norma Desmond in the 1993 Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, based on Billy Wilder’s classic portrait of Hollywood desuetude.
—The New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2017
Marlene Daut, Harper's BAZAAR, 8 Oct. 2021
Some passengers, however, seem to have moved beyond our technological limitations to a conceptual world where human drivers have fallen into desuetude.
—Peter Jakubowicz, Wired, 4 Sep. 2021
This Customs guidance has gone entirely unenforced for decades, but it was reissued — perhaps to keep it from desuetude — by the Obama administration in its final years.
—Eugene Kontorovich, Washington Post, 17 July 2017
Glenn Close returns to the role of Norma Desmond in the 1993 Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, based on Billy Wilder’s classic portrait of Hollywood desuetude.
—The New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desuetude
Noun
-
Like most extended car warranty providers, CarShield excludes pre-existing conditions that existed before your warranty took effect, as well as damage resulting from poor maintenance, neglect or intentional abuse.—
Brian Sloan,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Cash remains hopeful that the provision will be implemented later because cameras could both exonerate teachers who have been falsely accused of neglect and provide evidence against those teachers who do not follow state protocols.—
IndyStar,
IndyStar,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The 10-room Apostolic Palace apartment is undergoing extensive renovations, addressing years of water damage and disuse.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Aug. 2025
-
The 10-room suite, located on the palace’s third floor, has also undergone repairs for water infiltration and humidity after years of disuse.—
Greg Wehner , Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The author means this in the larger sense of abandonment—of a parent, of a friend, or even of a boss.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Public shelters and private rescues across Southern California are seeing an increase in large dog abandonment and owner requests for assistance.—
Erika I. Ritchie,
Oc Register,
30 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Desuetude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desuetude. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share