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View synonyms for derelict

derelict

[ der-uh-likt ]

adjective

  1. left or deserted, as by the owner or guardian; abandoned:

    a derelict ship.

  2. neglectful of duty; delinquent; negligent.

    Synonyms: heedless, careless, remiss



noun

  1. a person abandoned by society, especially a person without a permanent home and means of support; vagrant; bum.
  2. Nautical. a vessel abandoned in open water by its crew without any hope or intention of returning.
  3. personal property abandoned or thrown away by the owner.
  4. one guilty of neglect of duty.
  5. Law. land left dry by a change of the water line.

derelict

/ ˈdɛrɪlɪkt /

adjective

  1. deserted or abandoned, as by an owner, occupant, etc
  2. falling into ruins; neglected; dilapidated
  3. neglectful of duty or obligation; remiss


noun

  1. a person abandoned or neglected by society; a social outcast or vagrant
  2. property deserted or abandoned by an owner, occupant, etc
  3. a vessel abandoned at sea
  4. a person who is neglectful of duty or obligation

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Other Words From

  • dere·lict·ly adverb
  • dere·lict·ness noun
  • non·dere·lict adjective noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of derelict1

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin dērelictus “forsaken” (past participle of dērelinquere ), equivalent to dē- “from, away from” + relictus, past participle of relinquere “to leave, abandon”; de-, relinquish

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Word History and Origins

Origin of derelict1

C17: from Latin dērelictus forsaken, from dērelinquere to abandon, from de- + relinquere to leave

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Example Sentences

The couple has bought one of Detroit’s many derelict homes, which can cost just a few thousand dollars, and are renovating it themselves.

From Time

Right now, what we still don't know about the remake could fill a haunted derelict infested with ravenous space zombies—and that's intentional.

Congress and the media would be derelict not to examine the decisions by Fauci and others that led to this collaboration.

The funds would be used for the renovation of derelict public schools, including remodeling and repainting deteriorating buildings and upgrading bathrooms to make them “more modern.”

From Time

She encounters a derelict starship, hostile androids, and — of course — an Alien.

From Time

We stood on the rooftop of a derelict farmhouse meters away from a Turkish tank and a razor wire fence marking the end of Turkey.

Today, all that remains of these Jewish holiday centers is a constellation of derelict buildings.

He remembers, for example, living in Brooklyn Heights and trying to get booze from the “derelict liquor story nearby.”

The Daily Pic: In 1904 in Manhattan, the great Guastavino Co. gave palatial roofing to a subway station that's now derelict.

There were housing projects, and some truly derelict hotels where the very-down-on-their-luck lived.

A fair ship on a fair sea soon parts company with a derelict—unless it tows it.

Yet he had gone twice in the fortnight at her call to help her through stormy nights with the derelict.

Erdil is a tiny derelict Christian village situated in the Oramar valley a little above its confluence with the Zab.

A dead ship, a derelict, come to them by merest chance from some unthinkably remote star.

Eyes turned curiously on the shambling derelict, but the only expression on Newt's face was one of surly defiance to the world.

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Derekdereliction