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dilapidated 1 of 2

adjective

də-ˈla-pə-ˌdā-təd How to pronounce dilapidated (audio)
Definition of dilapidatednext
as in neglected
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect a dilapidated car that had seen better days

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dilapidated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of dilapidate
as in degraded

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 dilapidated
Adjective
These wild swings in the numbers came while residents here didn’t notice any change to the slow but steady arrival of newcomers in dilapidated coaches. — Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 But because of dilapidated infrastructure, the country only produces about 1% of the world’s oil. — Aamer Madhani, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026 The city earmarked $15 million to transform dilapidated buildings into hubs for new businesses. — Reg Chapman, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 But, as Keegan’s impact upon Newcastle — the club and the city — rose, the dilapidated ground changed, too. — Michael Walker, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dilapidated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dilapidated
  1. neglected
  2. degraded
  3. abandoned
  4. decomposed
  5. desolate
  6. corrupted
  7. miserable
  8. disintegrated
Adjective
  • Investors and analysts are increasingly looking to other parts of the market, both to find neglected sources of value and to start assuming a defensive posture against a possible downturn.
    — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 16 July 2026
  • Changing their environment is more reliable and more neglected.
    — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Definition of neglected
Verb
  • Sometimes the caulk around a drain has degraded, allowing mold to grow and offering an inviting way for springtails to enter.
    — Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The investigation found that the unpermitted excavation degraded sensitive habitats, according to a commission fact sheet.
    — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of degraded
Adjective
  • By the time viewers reach hour 15, the staff has spent an entire shift navigating a cyberattack that forces the emergency department to abandon digital systems, a nonstop influx of Fourth of July emergencies and an abandoned baby.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026
  • According to the gallery, the 25-minute film is set in a semi-abandoned hotel near Tokyo and reimagines the Greek myth of the goddess Persephone’s abduction by Hades.
    — Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 16 June 2026
Definition of abandoned
Verb
  • Most of the remains were severely decomposed, but investigators believed Montgomery had been dead for less than a day when he was found.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The fungal structures of either species inhabit soil where infected plant debris has decomposed.
    — Emily Leahy, Hartford Courant, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of decomposed
Adjective
  • With its fragile acoustic melodies, desolate lyrics, and spare, subtle studio accompaniment, Ride Lonesome is like Nick Drake’s mumble-folk masterpiece Bryter Layter as the work of a lovelorn Laurel Canyon soft-rock poet.
    — Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Making matters worse, those same neighborhoods are some of the city’s most desolate transit deserts.
    — Al Sharpton, New York Daily News, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of desolate
Verb
  • This may then seem like yet another story about how Trump has wrecked norms and corrupted the rule of law.
    — James Surowiecki, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The difference with those films is that all those guys came in corrupted by something or had something mentally going on.
    — Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of corrupted
Adjective
  • But this sleekly miserable noir about the aftermath of a feckless man’s confrontation with his wife’s younger lover transports the stuff of archetype into Putin’s Russia.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The higher the price of gas goes, the more miserable Republicans become, and the more bettors see the Dems winning.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of miserable
Verb
  • But slack defending allowed Chelsea’s individual quality to shine and as the match wore on, United’s confidence disintegrated.
    — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • In an instant, my protective shield disintegrated, leaving me raw and exposed.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of disintegrated

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Cite this Entry

“Dilapidated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dilapidated. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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