dereliction

noun

ˌder-ə-ˈlik-shən How to pronounce dereliction (audio)
Definition of derelictionnext
1
as in abandonment
the act of abandoning the dereliction by the owners of a once flourishing orchard

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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

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3
as in neglect
the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action both sentries were to be court-martialed for dereliction of duty

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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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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 Scott Quigley is another poster boy for MSP dereliction of duty. — Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 30 June 2026 Internal affairs probe found multiple policy violations An internal investigation found Mercer violated four department policies, including dereliction of duty and conduct unbecoming of an officer. — Andrea Lucia, CBS News, 15 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 From an ideological standpoint, the new flag was introduced at the exact time the citizens of this state were just getting a grip on the outrageously incompetent management of the state’s money, dereliction that allowed billions of their tax dollars to be lost to fraud. — Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 2 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for dereliction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dereliction
  1. abandonment
  2. negligence
  3. neglect
  4. weakness
  5. desertion
  6. sin
  7. fault
  8. failing
Noun
  • The note appears twice in handwriting and is typed again on the final report of well abandonment.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • For Smotkin, the water crisis reflects the island’s history of structural neglect and systemic abandonment by both local and federal authorities.
    — Isabel Rosales, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of abandonment
Noun
  • Earlier this year, two men, Christopher Sage and Terry Thompson, sued DraftKings, FanDuel and other companies for negligence, design defect, failure to warn, unfair trade practices and related claims.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • After the crash, Bustillos was charged with one count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.
    — Jacob Sisneros, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of negligence
Noun
  • Both Walter and Lefever have pleaded not guilty to three counts of chronic neglect of a child causing great bodily harm and two counts of chronic neglect of a child causing emotional damage, his online records show.
    — Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Iron Jane follows Janie John (González), who after a childhood shaped by neglect and invisibility, is pulled into a world that finally sees her, where pain is power and bodies are built, not born.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of neglect
Noun
  • Researchers point out that this ability could make maritime simulations more realistic while helping identify weaknesses in operational plans.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Summary Several investor rights firms are threatening class actions against into Suja Life after its stock plummeted following disappointing Q2 earnings and reduced guidance, attributed to grocery channel weakness.
    — Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of weakness
Noun
  • The core of the story is the desertion and betrayal of Roseanna McCoy by all concerned.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026
  • 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.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026
Definition of desertion
Noun
  • Van Staden was joined in the sin-bin in the next minute by Cobus Reinach for a deliberate knock-on.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026
  • In academia, there is no greater sin than passing off another’s work as one’s own.
    — Roger J. Kreuz, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of sin
Noun
  • Detecting a developing problem early can therefore be important for keeping the wider system available and preventing a localized fault from becoming a larger operational issue.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The wire is intended to provide a safe path for electricity to travel to earth in the event of a fault or surge.
    — Annie Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of fault
Noun
  • Modern interpreters have read his 10 heads as signifying his vast knowledge of 10 sacred texts, or alternately his 10 ethical failings, but the Ramayana account describes him as 10-headed from birth.
    — Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The instinct for many researchers is to treat uncertainty as a failing, something to paper over before anyone notices.
    — Aleeza Gerstein, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of failing

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Cite this Entry

“Dereliction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dereliction. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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