as in neglect
lack of use
despite the long years of desuetude, the old manual typewriter seemed to work just fine
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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
-
Her charges include one count of child neglect, three counts of felony animal neglect and four counts of misdemeanor animal neglect, and her bond is set at $36,000.—
Elizabeth Pritchett,
FOXNews.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
She was initially charged with child neglect and obstruction, and later charged with murder.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
After falling into disuse in the late 20th century, the Corn Exchange has undergone a thoughtful revival.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
-
Many vineyards fell into disuse and were abandoned during Prohibition, which lasted from 1920 until December 1933.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
3 June 2025
Noun
-
The parent author is a person whose actions are often not propelled by the self but the baby, a being whose influence on language seems to be one of frequent interruption or even abandonment.—
Ellyn Gaydos
August 11,
Literary Hub,
11 Aug. 2025
-
After decades of abandonment and decay, the historic complex of Rockville mills in the northern end of Vernon soon could be getting closer to restorations as part of a 214-unit apartment complex along with shops, a restaurant and small businesses.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Desuetude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desuetude. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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