disuse

noun

(ˌ)dis-ˈyüs How to pronounce disuse (audio)
Definition of disusenext
as in neglect
lack of use since the car has experienced years of disuse, starting it up won't be easy

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
  1. neglect
  2. abandonment
  3. inactivity
Noun
  • All of those children were known to the Department of Children and Families and had referrals for abuse or neglect.
    — Kaitlin McCallum, Hartford Courant, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The building already has materials, dimensions, defects, histories, neighbors, owners, previous uses, and established patterns of maintenance or neglect.
    — Julian Rose, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of neglect
Noun
  • Stewart gave the character so much humanity, life, and fear, the terror of a life wasted in pursuit of wealth to the abandonment of all else.
    — Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2026
  • If one relative always made Christmas dinner, this year’s gathering may shift to a potluck, a smaller meal or a new host, a change the Hospice Foundation of America describes as a form of compromise rather than abandonment.
    — Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of abandonment
Noun
  • After a period of inactivity that included elbow surgery, Álvarez’s greatest enemy is time.
    — Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Clots can also be caused by inactivity, such as sitting on a long flight or being immobile after surgery.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of inactivity

Browse Nearby Words

disunity
disuse
disused
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Disuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disuse. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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