dereliction

Failure of responsibility

Dereliction is the failure to fulfill a duty or obligation, most often in the phrase dereliction of duty: The officer was court-martialed for dereliction of duty.

The word also means the state of being abandoned and falling into ruin: The building had fallen into dereliction.

Both senses share the idea of neglect—whether of responsibilities or of property.

neglect

negligence

Failure to exercise care

disregardWillful lack of attention
inattentionLack of focus
carelessnessInattention causing mistakes

oversight · omission · laxity · indifference · apathy · heedlessness · remissness · slackness · irresponsibility · unconcern

duty

breach of duty

Failing an obligation owed

malfeasanceUnlawful act by officeholder
misconductImproper professional behavior
shirkingAvoiding obligatory tasks

failure · default · incompetence · unprofessionalism · violation · malpractice · truancy · AWOL · abdication · nonfeasance

decay

dilapidation

State of ruin

crumblingBreaking down gradually
disrepairPoor maintained condition
decayedBroken down organically

ramshackle · tumbledown · decrepit · rotting · ruined · blighted · shabby · rundown · neglected · squalid

abandonment

desertion

Unlawful abandonment of duty

forsakingRenouncing or abandoning completely
vacancyUnoccupied space or position
desolationState of complete emptiness

disuse · withdrawal · departure · emptiness · void · isolation · disconnection · estrangement · separation · jettison

dereliction

negligence

breach of duty

dilapidation

desertion

dereliction

Opposites

Phrases

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