derelict 1 of 2

adjective

ˈder-ə-ˌlikt How to pronounce derelict (audio)
Definition of derelictnext
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

derelict

2 of 2

noun

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

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 derelict
Adjective
Once the colony grew, the birds roosted in a derelict military barracks nearby, later returning to the pine forest when the facility was renovated. — Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 14 May 2026 By then, most of the waterfront was derelict, cut off from the city by the elevated West Side Highway, forgotten by the municipal authorities, and largely unpoliced. — Andrew Durbin, Vulture, 13 Apr. 2026 Markwayne Mullin, the secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, alleged that the Biden administration was derelict in its duty by failing to vet the sponsors of the children and to conduct wellness checks to ensure their safety. — Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 11 June 2026 When Ken Fulk and Kurt Wootton purchased what would become Durham Ranch—named after one of their dogs—the California wine country property was in disrepair, with a derelict 1940s ranch house and a handful of rickety outbuildings. — Mark David, Robb Report, 17 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for derelict
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derelict
  1. neglectful
  2. disused
  3. bum
  4. careless
  5. deserted
  6. beggar
  7. lazy
  8. abandoned
Adjective
  • Parents could be accused of neglectful supervision if an underage child is left at home unattended.
    — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 June 2026
  • While not every nursing home fosters a neglectful or abusive environment, these conditions can thrive at facilities that are understaffed.
    — Sponsored Content, Denver Post, 9 June 2026
Definition of neglectful
Adjective
  • In December last year, fashion designer Matthieu Blazy debuted his first Métiers d’Art collection for Chanel against the backdrop of a vintage train, which pulled into a disused subway station in downtown Manhattan.
    — Emmanuel Olunkwa, Architectural Digest, 1 July 2026
  • His trilogy is, likewise, a straphangers’ gallery of metropolitan oddballs, from Zippo, a pyromaniac turned blaxploitation filmmaker, to Uncle Rich, a master criminal who stages a daring raid on the Waldorf-Astoria from a disused train tunnel with the help of a homeless army.
    — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
Definition of disused
Noun
  • Sometimes there is a fine line between being a hero or a bum, but Dave has been able to negotiate that line, because players trust him, and the players know that Dave cares about them and their families.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • Designed with a plunging neckline, modest bum coverage, and compressive fabric with UPF 50 sun protection, the elegant silhouette offers rich-girl vacation energy that could easily double as a bodysuit with shorts.
    — Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 20 June 2026
Definition of bum
Adjective
  • The Most The business owners who get burned in an exit are almost never careless.
    — Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
  • Still, multitasking can lead to careless errors, irritability or burnout, so take it easy.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
Definition of careless
Adjective
  • Once all but deserted, the town experienced a revival in 1965, when artists and musicians began to flock there after encouragement from the Yugoslav government.
    — Tia Lovisa Moreira, Travel + Leisure, 2 July 2026
  • Security video reportedly shows Carman entering a condominium hand in hand with the teen, then later leaving alone, hauling a large suitcase toward a deserted area alongside the railway.
    — Jintamas Saksornchai, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
Definition of deserted
Noun
  • Gobert was chief among the beggars imploring his teammates for a shred of consistency on that end of the floor.
    — Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 27 Apr. 2026
  • So disguised as a beggar, Odysseus shows up at his palace, and he is not treated very nicely by the suitors who have camped out in his house.
    — Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
Definition of beggar
Adjective
  • And just like Alito, some members of my family have forgotten our history and support Trump or favor some of his immigration policies, dismissing new arrivals as criminals or lazy.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • Today, the park operates more than 40 family-friendly water attractions including thrilling slides, casual pools and a lazy river.
    — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026
Definition of lazy
Adjective
  • According to the gallery, the 25-minute film is set in a semi-abandoned hotel near Tokyo and reimagines the Greek myth of the goddess Persephone’s abduction by Hades.
    — Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 16 June 2026
  • The city has been overwhelmed in recent years by an influx of abandoned and stray dogs and puppies.
    — Alyce McFadden, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Mar. 2026
Definition of abandoned

Browse Nearby Words

derby
derelict
dereliction
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Derelict.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derelict. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on derelict

Nglish: Translation of derelict for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All