dereliction | Definition of dereliction

1 the act of abandoning

the dereliction by the owners of a once flourishing orchard

Synonyms of dereliction

abandonment, desertion, forsaking

Words Related to dereliction

defection

tergiversation

discard, dumping, jettisoning

Near Antonyms of dereliction

retention

recoupment, repossession, retrieval

Antonyms of dereliction

reclamation

2 failure to take the care that a cautious person usually takes

the ski area was not held responsible for the injury on account of the skier's own manifest dereliction

Synonyms of dereliction

carelessness, heedlessness, incaution, incautiousness, laxness, neglectfulness, negligence, remissness, slackness

Words Related to dereliction

foolhardiness, rashness, recklessness, wildness

neglect, omission

delinquency, irresponsibility, irresponsibleness, malfeasance, malpractice, misconduct

misdirection, mishandling, mismanagement

forgetfulness, inadvertence, inadvertency, inattention, inattentiveness, obliviousness, shortsightedness, unwariness

Near Antonyms of dereliction

alertness, attention, attentiveness, awareness

circumspection, observance, vigilance, watchfulness

responsibility, responsibleness

Antonyms of dereliction

care, carefulness, caution, cautiousness, heedfulness

3 the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action

both sentries were to be court-martialed for dereliction of duty

Synonyms of dereliction

default, delinquency, failure, misprision, neglect, negligence, nonfeasance, oversight

Words Related to dereliction

carelessness, heedlessness, inadvertence, inadvertency, laxity

Near Antonyms of dereliction

compliance, discharge, fulfillment (or fulfilment)

4 a defect in character

believes that society is guilty of a moral dereliction if it does not care for those unable to care for themselves

Synonyms of dereliction

demerit, failing, fault, foible, frailty, shortcoming, sin, vice, want, weakness

Words Related to dereliction

blot, spot, stain

blemish, deficiency, flaw, imperfection, minus, nit

Achilles' heel, soft spot

corruption, depravity, evil, immorality, sinfulness, wickedness

Phrases Synonymous with dereliction

feet of clay

Near Antonyms of dereliction

excellence, perfection

goodness, integrity, morality, probity, rectitude, righteousness

Antonyms of dereliction

merit, virtue

Synonyms and Antonyms of dereliction

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