DERELICTION Synonyms: 108 Similar and Opposite Words

dereliction

noun

ˌder-ə-ˈlik-shən

Definition of dereliction

as in abandonment

the act of abandoning the dereliction by the owners of a once flourishing orchard

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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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 dereliction The budget represents a double dereliction of duty by the state’s political leadership. — Dan Walters, Mercury News, 9 July 2026 Bramshill called Nieporte’s claims fabricated and said he isn’t owed any money, adding that his termination was due to dereliction of duty, according to the Journal. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 5 July 2026 Scott Quigley is another poster boy for MSP dereliction of duty. — Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 30 June 2026 This dereliction of duty from the current head of the office is costing the county tens of millions of dollars in lost interest. — Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for dereliction

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dereliction

Noun

Goldfish centers on a 17-year-old high school senior who presents as detached, ironic and emotionally armored, but underneath is quietly paralyzed by fear of failure, abandonment and becoming his parents.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026
The person found responsible could face charges of abandonment and neglect.

— Julia Avant, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of abandonment

Noun

Executives are currently shielded behind their companies, with corporate financial penalties for misconduct or negligence often amounting to a fraction of their turnover and valuations – just another line item.

— Giorgos Tsetis, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
Earlier versions of Florida law generally provided four years for negligence actions.

— Emma Clapp, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of negligence

Noun

Another on-ramp to the fragile pathway is a childhood of abuse, neglect, or other recurring traumatic experiences.

— Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
After decades of neglect and subsequent disrepair, it was recently restored into a luxurious one-bedroom retreat that honors its historic roots while embracing contemporary amenities like a king bed, an en-suite bathroom, and a sleek living area.

— Madeline Weinfield, Architectural Digest, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of neglect

Noun

Every monster has unique strengths and weaknesses, and each demands a different response.

— Jeff DeGraff, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
As rules and institutions constrain less and brute power matters more, countries will seek partners to help them blunt sanctions, access critical technologies, compensate for military weaknesses, expand their room for maneuver, and resist isolation.

— Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of weakness

Noun

Mobilization problems, desertion and a shrinking pool of eligible men leave exhausted soldiers serving longer and commanders struggling to rotate forces along the 775-mile front.

— Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Mary Cormier and David Butts, of Scott, were arrested and charged with second-degree cruelty to juveniles, child desertion, and contributing to the delinquency of juveniles, the Scott Police Department said in a statement.

— KC Baker, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of desertion

Noun

Catholic teaching still calls suicide a grave sin, but recognizes mental illness can diminish responsibility; advocates want mental health ministries in parishes worldwide.

— Luis Andres Henao, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
If the sin of Mars’ album was being too predictable, Styles’ bold and unexpected Kiss All the Time.

— Alan Light, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of sin

Noun

The court ruled in favor of summary judgment for OpenAI and found Walters had not established fault and damages.

— Kaitlin Newkirk, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
The military attributed the crash of a PAC MFI-17 Mushshak plane near the town of Nawan Killi in Balochistan province to a technical fault.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of fault

Noun

In the documentation, the company is candid about its failings.

— Frank Landymore, Futurism, 14 Oct. 2026
The Army report highlighted how the air traffic controller at Reagan National Airport could have prevented the crash, but also acknowledged the military’s own failings and other contributing factors.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of failing

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dereliction

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“Dereliction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dereliction. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of dereliction

noun

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