SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
decrepitude
noun
A state of serious deterioration or weakness from age, wear, or neglect.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Deterioration through age or wear
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topDilapidation and disrepair fit buildings; infirmity and frailty usually describe diminished physical strength.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See decrepitude in use
The old station had fallen into decrepitude after years without repairs.
Behind the display area, the students found a cabinet in disrepair: its hinges were loose, and two handles had disappeared during years without maintenance. Its sagging frame suggested a more general decrepitude, the serious deterioration of an object worn down by age and neglect.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license