1
as in negligence
the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action we received a notice in the mail informing us of our delinquency in paying our utility bill

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in lateness
the quality or state of being late delinquency of our mortgage payment meant that we would have to pay a surcharge

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 delinquency Brown was taken into custody on breaking and entering, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, injury to real property, obtaining property by false pretenses, and second-degree trespassing charges. Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 26 June 2025 Brown was taken to the Union County Detention Center and charged with breaking and entering, second-degree trespassing, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, injury to real property and obtaining property by false pretenses, the sheriff's office said. Megan Forrester, ABC News, 25 June 2025 The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and KCK for years tried to rip the property from its longtime owner, Carl Lopp, due to surmounting tax delinquency and violation fees. Kansas City Star, 16 July 2025 Roughly 6 million student loan borrowers entered delinquency between February and April, TransUnion said, estimating that about one-third of those borrowers could enter default in July. Max Zahn, ABC News, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for delinquency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delinquency
Noun
  • Police said the investigation is still ongoing, adding that no foul play or negligence is currently suspected.
    Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 31 July 2025
  • The couple is accusing the funeral homes of mishandling human remains, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligence.
    USA Today, USA Today, 30 July 2025
Noun
  • Police always investigate a drowning to rule out cases of abuse or extreme neglect, but an absent-minded parent accidentally forgetting to lock the pool gate or door to the backyard was unlikely to land them behind bars, Hoskin said.
    Elena Santa Cruz, AZCentral.com, 12 July 2025
  • Not only in the United States, where academic medical centers (AMCs) are strained by politics, profit models and bureaucracy—but also in countries like Mexico, where health systems are crumbling under neglect and underfunding.
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025
Noun
  • That means the leaders set the standard for the team, and police things like penalties and tardiness.
    Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 27 July 2025
  • Organizers of the event have since taken responsibility for the tardiness, but in case anyone is still confused, Hill has now shared a firm statement on Instagram, thanking the festival for speaking up and outlining her hands-on approach to live performances.
    Shania Russell, EW.com, 9 July 2025
Noun
  • The default metrics—awareness and consideration—are helpful but often insufficient.
    Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
  • Too often, systems default to siloed or one-time assessments — missing the evolving nature of both brain injury and mental health conditions.
    Keita Franklin, New York Daily News, 4 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • And in fact, failure in the relays has been an ongoing sore subject for Team USA.
    Cory Mull, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
  • Critics of the strikes jumped at the opportunity to call the operation a failure, but the DIA’s product should ...
    NR Editors, National Review, 24 July 2025
Noun
  • The recalls underscore concerns about safety oversight for products marketed by third-party sellers on e-commerce platforms, particularly for children's products with potentially hazardous defects.
    Emma Marsden, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Aug. 2025
  • Prioritize ethical practices Look for programs with transparent impact metrics and community oversight.
    Dianne Plummer, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Delinquency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delinquency. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on delinquency

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!