Synonyms of dereliction

dereliction

noun

ˌder-ə-ˈlik-shən 

1

as in abandonment

the act of abandoning

the dereliction by the owners of a once flourishing orchard

Synonyms & Similar Words

• abandonment
• desertion
• forsaking
• defection
• dumping
• discard
• tergiversation
• jettisoning

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reclamation
• retention
• retrieval
• repossession
• recoupment

2

as in negligence

failure to take the care that a cautious person usually takes

the ski area was not held responsible for the injury on account of the skier's own manifest dereliction

Synonyms & Similar Words

• negligence
• neglectfulness
• neglect
• carelessness
• omission
• laxness
• heedlessness
• remissness
• recklessness
• slackness
• malfeasance
• irresponsibility
• foolhardiness
• mismanagement
• wildness
• malpractice
• incaution
• incautiousness
• misconduct
• inattention
• forgetfulness
• rashness
• mishandling
• inadvertence
• delinquency
• inattentiveness
• inadvertency
• misdirection
• irresponsibleness
• shortsightedness
• obliviousness
• unwariness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• care
• awareness
• caution
• attention
• carefulness
• alertness
• attentiveness
• responsibility
• cautiousness
• vigilance
• watchfulness
• circumspection
• observance
• heedfulness
• responsibleness

3

as in neglect

the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action

both sentries were to be court-martialed for dereliction of duty

Synonyms & Similar Words

• negligence
• neglect
• failure
• oversight
• default
• delinquency
• nonfeasance
• misprision
• carelessness
• inadvertence
• laxity
• heedlessness
• inadvertency

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discharge
• compliance
• fulfillment
• fulfilment

4

as in weakness

a defect in character

believes that society is guilty of a moral dereliction if it does not care for those unable to care for themselves

Synonyms & Similar Words

• weakness
• sin
• fault
• failing
• shortcoming
• deficiency
• sinfulness
• vice
• foible
• demerit
• frailty
• feet of clay
• evil
• stain
• immorality
• imperfection
• corruption
• blot
• blemish
• flaw
• want
• minus
• depravity
• wickedness
• soft spot
• spot
• nit
• Achilles' heel

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• virtue
• merit
• excellence
• perfection
• integrity
• morality
• goodness
• righteousness
• rectitude
• probity

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of dereliction

Ernst charged public employees with widespread absenteeism and dereliction of duty. —Charlie Tyson, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2025

Amid this strangulation, Californication, and dereliction, Governor Moore loudly proclaims that the solution is growth. —John Teichert, Baltimore Sun, 3 Mar. 2025

Lawmakers diagnosed that the principal government dereliction had been the failure to ensure that intelligence was shared across agencies. —Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 1 Mar. 2025

Watching a patient suffer feels like a dereliction of duty to many health care workers. —Daniel T. Kim, The Conversation, 4 Feb. 2025