decrepit
adjective
de·crep·it
di-ˈkre-pət 
1
: wasted and weakened by or as if by the infirmities of old age
a decrepit old man
2
a
: impaired by use or wear : worn-out
a decrepit school bus
b
: fallen into ruin or disrepair
a decrepit industry
3
: dilapidated, run-down
an old, decrepit hotel
decrepitly
adverb
Examples of decrepit in a Sentence
My decrepit car barely starts.
Recent Examples on the Web
In one scene, Hill's character is weak and decrepit.
—
Juliana Kim, NPR, 5 May 2024
But the system, the largest in America, has grown increasingly decrepit and unreliable.
—Jesse Ashlock, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 May 2024
Clark Park, in the heart of southwest Detroit, was in disrepair, with ruts in the baseball field, a run-down rec center and a decrepit ice rink.
—Eric Guzmán, Detroit Free Press, 4 May 2024
Manhattan’s Backyard by the Hudson The Chelsea Piers sports complex opened in 1995, revitalizing the decrepit Hudson River waterfront in Chelsea.
—David Waldstein, New York Times, 3 May 2024
Our building was a decrepit brownstone full of unhandy people.
—Benjamin Nugent, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2024
Directions to houseguests ran several paragraphs and could include a plane, trains, taxis, a ferry, another ferry, then miles and miles on foot down a decrepit, often impassable rural lane.
—Stephen Metcalf, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2024
The real-world impact of this plan is currently being felt by society at all levels but is particularly more pernicious for lower income groups with limited-to-no savings and a decrepit safety net (that the Milei administration is purposefully diluting).
—Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
But despite the decrepit nature of the vessel that has long since been seaworthy, the Philippine government has reportedly kept marines stationed on the vessel to stake claim to the contested area, according to the U.S. Naval Institute.
—Caitlin McFall, Fox News, 28 Mar. 2024
Juliana Kim, NPR, 5 May 2024
But the system, the largest in America, has grown increasingly decrepit and unreliable.
—Jesse Ashlock, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 May 2024
Clark Park, in the heart of southwest Detroit, was in disrepair, with ruts in the baseball field, a run-down rec center and a decrepit ice rink.
—Eric Guzmán, Detroit Free Press, 4 May 2024
Manhattan’s Backyard by the Hudson The Chelsea Piers sports complex opened in 1995, revitalizing the decrepit Hudson River waterfront in Chelsea.
—David Waldstein, New York Times, 3 May 2024
Our building was a decrepit brownstone full of unhandy people.
—Benjamin Nugent, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2024
Directions to houseguests ran several paragraphs and could include a plane, trains, taxis, a ferry, another ferry, then miles and miles on foot down a decrepit, often impassable rural lane.
—Stephen Metcalf, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2024
The real-world impact of this plan is currently being felt by society at all levels but is particularly more pernicious for lower income groups with limited-to-no savings and a decrepit safety net (that the Milei administration is purposefully diluting).
—Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
But despite the decrepit nature of the vessel that has long since been seaworthy, the Philippine government has reportedly kept marines stationed on the vessel to stake claim to the contested area, according to the U.S. Naval Institute.
—Caitlin McFall, Fox News, 28 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'decrepit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near decrepit
Cite this Entry
“Decrepit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decrepit. Accessed 8 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
decrepit
adjective
de·crep·it
di-ˈkrep-ət
: broken down with age : worn-out
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share