DISUSE Synonyms: 11 Similar and Opposite Words

disuse

noun

(ˌ)dis-ˈyüs

Definition of disuse

as in neglect

lack of use since the car has experienced years of disuse, starting it up won't be easy

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 disuse Prior to redevelopment, the building showed significant deterioration after years of disuse. — J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2026 Yet the upper body can more easily fall into disuse. — Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2026 Heart muscles atrophy, or weaken from disuse, in adults who spend prolonged times in the weightlessness of space. — Literary Hub, 20 Feb. 2026 The term fell largely into disuse with the Axis powers’ defeat in 1945. — Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 8 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for disuse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disuse

Noun

The outing ultimately led to a criminal conviction and her placement on the state’s child-abuse and neglect registry.

— Rachel Hale, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026
In a prepared statement, DCFS acknowledged the role child abuse pediatricians play in its abuse and neglect investigations.

— Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of neglect

Noun

With the storyline of a friend moving away, the film touches on the fear of abandonment that many in the Philippines experience when a family member or friend moves away to build a better life for themselves overseas.

— Angeline Jane Bernabe, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
Set against the backdrop of political dishonesty and the country’s abandonment of ideals, the book probes questions about how to be an artist in the world.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of abandonment

Noun

Physical inactivity, including not walking enough, increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic health issues.

— Kristen Gasnick, Verywell Health, 2 Sep. 2026
Months of inactivity allow microbes, algae, barnacles and other invertebrates to colonize submerged surfaces.

— Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of inactivity

Browse Nearby Words

disunity

disuse

disused

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Disuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disuse. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of disuse

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

quorum

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes