He was court-martialed for dereliction of duty.
Source: tatoeba (662972)
Dereliction
/dɛɹ.ɪˈlɪk.ʃən/
Synonyms for "dereliction" (141 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (29)
Noun(6 words)
Strong matches (42)
Related words (70)
minor wrongmisdeedmisdemeanormisfeasancemisusemortal sinneglectneglectfulnessnegligencenonadherencenoncompliancenonconformancenonconformitynonfeasancenonfulfillmentnoninterferencenonobservancenonperformancenonrestrictionoffence
Show 39 more words
offenseomissionoutrageoverlookingoversightpeccadillopeccancypermissivenesspoor stewardshipprocrastinationpunic faithrattingrecreancyremissnessschismsecessionsinsin of commissionsin of omissionsinful actslacknessslightsliptorttransgressiontrespasstriptrothlessnessunfaithunfaithfulnessunloyaltyunobservanceunrigorousnessunsteadfastnessuntruenessunutterable sinvenial sinwalkoutwrong
Noun(10 words)
neglectneglect dutiesneglect of dutyneglect of pastureneglect usagenegligencenoncompliancenonfulfillmentruinwillful neglect
Adjective(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: abandon, abandonment, abuse, apostasy, atrocity.
- Sentence evidence is available for dereliction, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, opengloss, moby, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "dereliction".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "dereliction"
Keep "dereliction" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "dereliction" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "dereliction", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "dereliction" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
15 entriesabandonmentactus reuscarelessnessdecaydisregarddisrepairduty violationinactionmisconductneglectneglectfulnessnegligencenonperformancewrongdoingwrongful conduct
More specific
9 entriesabandoned propertybreach of dutybreach of fiduciary dutycorrosionderelict propertyfailure of oversightmechanical failurenonfeasancestructural decay
Collocations
6 entriesderelict buildingdereliction of dutydereliction of governancedereliction of propertystate of derelictionurban dereliction
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
2 entriesSample sentences
7 total sentences available.
The new soldier did not clean his cabin and was scolded for dereliction and disobedience.
Source: wiktionary
What he did was a terrible dereliction of duty.
Source: wiktionary
And his final act—leaving the Watch to accompany Tormund and the Wildlings back into the woods North of the wall—no longer seems like a dereliction of duty. It’s the recovery of duty, found by a man who feels he betrayed his queen, who thinks there’s no longer a place for him in these lands.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 7 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "dereliction"?
Closest matches include abandon, abandonment, abuse, apostasy, atrocity.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "dereliction"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.