1
as in neglectful
failing to give proper care and attention
the guards were judged derelict in their duty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disused
left unoccupied or unused
purchased an old derelict mansion that was rumored to be haunted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in bum
an idle worthless person
a section of the city that seemed to be frequented mostly by derelicts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of derelict
Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 18 Dec. 2024
The problem is especially visible in low-income neighborhoods and the outer-boroughs, where there are more derelict spaces for the animals to roam.
—Molly Osberg, Curbed, 10 July 2024
Jennifer Hattam, TIME, 25 July 2024
The country’s derelict regime couldn’t last forever, U.S. leaders reasoned.
—Doug Bandow, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2016
See All Example Sentences for derelict
Adjective
Denver’s Landmark Preservation Commission on Tuesday gave the green light to demolish two historic but derelict buildings on East Colfax Avenue, with all but one board member agreeing the multimillion-dollar restorations would be an economic hardship to the owner.
—Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 18 Dec. 2024
The problem is especially visible in low-income neighborhoods and the outer-boroughs, where there are more derelict spaces for the animals to roam.
—Molly Osberg, Curbed, 10 July 2024
Noun
This grand Turkish bath (hamam) reopened in May 2024 after laying derelict for decades.
—Jennifer Hattam, TIME, 25 July 2024
The country’s derelict regime couldn’t last forever, U.S. leaders reasoned.
—Doug Bandow, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2016
See All Example Sentences for derelict
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derelict
Adjective
-
These dream-memories throw us directly into the action with scenes involving mobsters, a neglectful father, and an explosion—all before skipping back to unrelated conversations in modern day.—
Eliana Dockterman,
TIME,
23 Feb. 2025
-
Nor is stealth aided by growing evidence of his own neglectful self-care: exhaustion, panic attacks, blackouts, a limp from unattended jogging injuries, eventually audio and visual hallucinations.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
One of the most powerful scenes in Sugarcane takes place in a disused barn where, over a period of decades, Indigenous children worked under the lash.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
8 Feb. 2025
-
McQueen spends half an hour dispassionately showing us the grimness of HMP Maze, a Troubles-era warehouse for enemies of the British state on a disused airfield.—
IndieWire Staff,
IndieWire,
12 Aug. 2024
Noun
-
This was all done with a bum wrist, which posed as an inconvenience to him at times.—
Hannah Kirby,
Journal Sentinel,
4 Aug. 2024
-
Tommy, left to prosecute the case against Rusty, has inherited a bum gig.—
Vinson Cunningham,
The New Yorker,
26 July 2024
Adjective
-
These research projects, ongoing at UCF, could be among the research hit by the budget ax being wielded by careless hands — part of a nationwide strike against grants funded by the National Institutes of Health.—
Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards,
Orlando Sentinel,
20 Feb. 2025
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The program has faced consequences of careless actions even before that, said Benjamin Chevat, executive director at Citizens for Extension of the James Zadroga Act.—
Nancy Cutler,
USA TODAY,
19 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The beggars, widows, and families with sick relatives who once made a pilgrimage to the gates of the parliament building in the Green Zone to beg lawmakers for help are now barred from entry.—
Ned Parker,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Feb. 2012
-
All the beggars at the intersection of Lee Road and the off-ramp of I-4 are completely out of hand.—
Ticked Off,
Orlando Sentinel,
18 July 2024
Adjective
-
The man’s pretty mouth is curved into a lazy grin, arms crossed over his superb chest.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
13 Feb. 2025
-
Lobster Pappardelle made with a 1.25-lb lazy lobster, English peas, fresh pappardelle pasta and sherry thyme cream is also available for $45.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
But the findings won’t be able to say how abandoned land should be managed, or whether people should try to manage it at all.—
ByDan Charles,
science.org,
2 Jan. 2025
-
A day later his car was found abandoned but undamaged in a parking lot near Congaree National Park about 20 miles southeast of Columbia.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
3 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Extra hooks allow the bag to transform into a trapezoidal hobo shape.—
Joelle Diderich,
WWD,
19 Sep. 2024
-
There’s a lot to love about Coach’s viral shoulder bag: the modern hobo style, the soft leather, the distinct shape.—
Lindy Segal,
Glamour,
13 Sep. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Derelict.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derelict. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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