as in negligence
the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action
a default in the repayment of a bank loan
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of default
Oliver Brandt, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025
Sears Tower was transferred to its lender (Metlife Inc.) to prevent the skyscraper’s owner (Trizec) from defaulting on its massive mortgage.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 July 2025
In Florida, courts examine the language of the agreement to determine whether a broker is entitled to a share of a deposit in the event of a buyer’s default.
—Gary Singer, Sun Sentinel, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for default
Noun
Gameplay Fixed an issue where, when using a controller in Trauma Drama, the controllable character would default to shooting upwards instead of forward.
—Oliver Brandt, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025
Sears Tower was transferred to its lender (Metlife Inc.) to prevent the skyscraper’s owner (Trizec) from defaulting on its massive mortgage.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
Verb
For Vanessa and Xander Marin, a future with children was always the default.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 July 2025
In Florida, courts examine the language of the agreement to determine whether a broker is entitled to a share of a deposit in the event of a buyer’s default.
—Gary Singer, Sun Sentinel, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for default
Recent Examples of Synonyms for default
Noun
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The lawsuit seeks damages and brings claims of battery, negligence and false imprisonment.—
Nathan Pilling
July 19,
Kansas City Star,
19 July 2025
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Mitchell said that in civil cases where civil negligence is raised, a lawyer would have to show that someone's carelessness caused harm to another person, such as running a red light and hitting someone.—
Elena Santa Cruz,
AZCentral.com,
18 July 2025
Verb
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Donald Trump promised to go after the worst of the worst, but his administration's heavy-handed tactics in many cases ignore people's constitutional rights and the rule of law.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
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Having said that, beachgoers have already been ignoring signs and fencing to get to the beach, especially on weekends.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
23 July 2025
Noun
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And in fact, failure in the relays has been an ongoing sore subject for Team USA.—
Cory Mull,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
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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
Verb
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We’re overrun by leaders who are psychopaths or sociopaths (people who disregard social norms and the rights of others).—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
18 July 2025
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Even now, six months into President Trump’s second term, there’s a tendency to disregard his sometimes fiery rhetoric as mere big talk.—
Thomas Elias,
Mercury News,
4 July 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Verb
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The Trump administration’s AI plan omits the role of U.S. immigration policy in providing American companies access to talent in cutting-edge fields.—
Stuart Anderson,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
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In a fun and rigorous reading, Taubin zings Chazelle for omitting race in a nostalgic exercise that purports to be all about the birth of jazz.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
24 July 2025
Verb
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Remarkably, the centerline of the path — where totality lasts just shy of three minutes — passes over tourist mecca Queenstown and Dunedin.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
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Yet, despite nearing $100 billion, the company has been repeatedly passed over for S&P 500 inclusion.—
MacKenzie Sigalos,
CNBC,
21 July 2025
Verb
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Related article Gay rights icon Harvey Milk’s legacy slighted by decision to rename Navy ship Wald says that waiting to transition can create additional psychological distress for a child and can raise their risk of depression, suicidality, self-harm or substance misuse.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
18 June 2025
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Despite Meg’s efforts to connect, Ellen (Kyra Sedgwick) repeatedly slights her future daughter-in-law.—
Natalia Winkelman,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Default.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/default. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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