Derelicts

Derelicts refers to individuals or objects abandoned or neglected, often left in a dilapidated or unusable state. When applied to people, the term describes those considered homeless, vagrant, or lacking a fixed abode and means of support, implying social marginalization and often associated with poverty, addiction, or mental illness. Regarding objects, 'derelicts' signifies structures, vehicles, or vessels that are abandoned, decaying, and no longer serving their intended purpose. The term carries a sense of decay, abandonment, and a loss of value, either physical or societal.

Derelicts meaning with examples

• The coastal town was overrun with derelicts. Many of the once-grand beachfront hotels were now crumbling, their windows boarded up. These buildings, reminders of past prosperity, were now havens for squatters and a symbol of the town's economic decline. Local authorities struggled with the issues these derelicts posed.
• The rescue team found several derelicts on the abandoned cargo ship; these men were living in appalling conditions, the ship's hull corroded. They had been stranded for weeks. The rescuers, providing food and medical attention, transported the debilitated figures to safety, a reminder of desperation.
• The city council decided to tear down the derelicts in the old industrial district. These old factories, rusted and vandalized, represented a blight on the neighborhood. The council's decision, meant to be a catalyst for redevelopment, was a contested action debated by property owners.
• During their camping trip, they stumbled upon a derelict, a small, abandoned cabin deep within the woods. The cabin, though dilapidated, retained its historical mystique; it was like a portal to the past. They cautiously explored the structure, noting its crumbling walls and remnants of a forgotten life.