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

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

The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, which in 1860 took possession of a dilapidated home nearly devoid of its contents, has been trying ever since to restore it to its appearance in 1799, when Washington died.

From The Wall Street Journal

And because of the dilapidated state of the property, it's already been indicated that he won't get any money back from his original investment.

From BBC

Related Words

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