1
as in neglectful
failing to give proper care and attention
the guards were judged derelict in their duty
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of derelict
Rachel Howard, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2025
Two local guys had the idea of turning the derelict elevated railroad tracks into a garden walkway—the High Line.
—Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
In a city that hit its 175th birthday in February, there are many derelict or underutilized buildings, particularly on the grid.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 8 June 2025
The owners of derelict or neglected commercial buildings are now subject to the same fines as negligent residential property owners.
—Karri Peifer, Axios, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for derelict
Adjective
Lévy found the derelict property on Le Bon Coin, the French equivalent of Craigslist.
—Rachel Howard, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2025
Two local guys had the idea of turning the derelict elevated railroad tracks into a garden walkway—the High Line.
—Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
In a city that hit its 175th birthday in February, there are many derelict or underutilized buildings, particularly on the grid.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 8 June 2025
The owners of derelict or neglected commercial buildings are now subject to the same fines as negligent residential property owners.
—Karri Peifer, Axios, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for derelict
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derelict
Adjective
-
Hinchliffe Stadium originally opened in 1932 and hosted the Negro Leagues’ New York Black Yankees and the American Soccer League’s New Jersey Eagles in the late 1980s before shuttering in 1996 after many neglectful years without maintenance and upkeep.—
Jeff Rueter,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
-
Raised by a neglectful alcoholic father in Buffalo, N.Y.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
People.com,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
On his release, Stern went on to spend the 1950s ping-ponging between New York and California, for a time living on a disused laundry barge in Sausalito.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
3 Mar. 2025
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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
Noun
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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
-
Proof Carefully To Show Professionalism And Attention To Detail What gets my negative attention are résumés with careless errors—typos, missing words and inconsistent formatting.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
-
Social media erupted in fear, and disgust, or simply threw shame his way for being careless.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
8 July 2025
Noun
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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
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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
-
Babitz is often contrasted with her frenemy Joan Didion—Babitz was cast in the popular imagination as the fun, ditzy sexpot, as opposed to Didion’s cool, cold-blooded stenographer—but the maturity and thoughtfulness of these stories dispel any lazy stereotypes.—
The Atlantic Culture Desk,
The Atlantic,
23 July 2025
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It's adorned as a melting ski resort, featuring cool slides, a lazy river, and a wave pool.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Parents,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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The 33 towns being considered for this project, which are expected to meet final approval in the coming weeks, are all on the brink of extinction with the number of empty and abandoned houses outnumbering those that are inhabited.—
Barbie Latza Nadeau,
CNN,
21 Mar. 2025
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The team had a group task to accomplish, yes, but at every checkpoint, people had to make the decision to be selfish or selfless, and the selfish ones got rewarded while the selfless were left abandoned and miserable on the loch.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Extra hooks allow the bag to transform into a trapezoidal hobo shape.—
Joelle Diderich,
WWD,
19 Sep. 2024
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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 30 Jul. 2025.
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