dilapidated

American  

[dih-lap-i-dey-tid] / dɪˈlæp ɪˌdeɪ tɪd /

adjective

1. reduced to or fallen into partial ruin or decay, as from age, wear, or neglect.

   Synonyms:

   rickety, ramshackle, run-down

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dilapidated British  

/ dɪˈlæpɪˌdeɪtɪd /

adjective

1. falling to pieces or in a state of disrepair; shabby

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Other Word Forms

• nondilapidated adjective
• undilapidated adjective

Etymology

Origin of dilapidated

First recorded in 1800–10; dilapidate + -ed ²

Example Sentences

From his portrait S.P. seems to gaze out in disappointment at rooms that have grown increasingly dilapidated.

From The Wall Street Journal

The government wants to "neutralise" the site and passed a law in 2016 to take control of the dilapidated building from its private owner.

From Barron's

If he really cares about the latter, he wouldn’t bar tenants in the city’s dilapidated public housing from airing complaints at his hearings on “rental ripoffs,” as the New York Post reported this week.

From The Wall Street Journal

The licenses come a few weeks after Venezuela’s interim government made changes to its hydrocarbon law to ease state control of its dilapidated oil industry.

From The Wall Street Journal

Many residents have little choice but to stay in their dilapidated homes.

From Barron's

Related Words

• battered
• broken-down
• crumbling
• damaged
• decaying
• decrepit
• derelict
• dingy
• in ruins
• neglected
• ramshackle
• rickety
• run down
• seedy
• shabby
• unkempt