1
as in abandonment
the act of abandoning
the dereliction by the owners of a once flourishing orchard
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dereliction
The firing of the deputy mayor signals to us a dereliction of duty.
—
Michael Pfleger,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
In the decades that followed, the structure fell into dereliction and faced demolition before ultimately being restored.
—
Paul Caputo,
Forbes.com,
26 Mar. 2026
On Friday, the regular session ended with no action on a state budget, a dereliction of duty that’s becoming increasingly common.
—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Mar. 2026
On Friday, the regular session ended with no action on a state budget, a dereliction of duty that’s becoming increasingly common.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dereliction
Michael Pfleger,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
In the decades that followed, the structure fell into dereliction and faced demolition before ultimately being restored.
—
Paul Caputo,
Forbes.com,
26 Mar. 2026
On Friday, the regular session ended with no action on a state budget, a dereliction of duty that’s becoming increasingly common.
—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Mar. 2026
On Friday, the regular session ended with no action on a state budget, a dereliction of duty that’s becoming increasingly common.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dereliction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dereliction
Noun
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It’s been so interesting to hear about plugging and abandonment issues from a different perspective.
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Despite the closure, Ringas hopes the attractions — or even the entire park — will be saved from abandonment.
Noun
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In other words, if that water heater explodes, then the investor will be personally sued for negligence in not replacing it, and the liability shield of the real property company is thus circumvented.
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The passengers are accusing Delta of negligence, negligence per se and a violation of the Montreal Convention.
Noun
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Some business owners say crime and neglect are driving away customers.
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Disabled people are disproportionately represented in detention, where inaccessible conditions, inadequate medical care, and systemic neglect put lives at risk.
Noun
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Furthermore, companies tend to have an easier time outperforming consensus sales growth estimates during periods of US dollar weakness.
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This helps nourish and protect hair from external aggressors like UV damage and pollution, which can cause weakness and buildup.
Noun
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The core of the story is the desertion and betrayal of Roseanna McCoy by all concerned.
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Furthermore, the Ukrainian army is short-handed, facing around 200,000 troop desertions and draft-dodging by around 2 million people, Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said in January.
Noun
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The angels, still in disguise as men, inform Lot that the city will be destroyed as punishment for its sins.
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Solidaridad sin Fronteras has 58,000 health professionals among its members.
Noun
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Small accidents, although no fault of your own, may cause this.
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Through no fault of her own, Clark has become part of the culture war.
Noun
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The new documentary reveals some of the interpersonal and business conflicts that led to the disintegration of the classic EW&F line-up, boldly highlighting the various triumphs and failings of leader Maurice White who died in 2016 at age 74 from Parkinson’s disease.
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These failings dated from 2012 to May 2025.
Cite this Entry
“Dereliction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dereliction. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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