dilapidate

An obsolete verb meaning to bring into a state of decay or ruin, or to fall into disrepair.

• 🇫🇷Verbe désuet signifiant réduire à un état de ruine ou de délabrement, ou tomber en décrépitude. Il peut aussi signifier gaspiller ou dissiper des ressources de manière inconsidérée.

1. Cause decay or ruin C2 formal

   To cause something to fall into a state of disrepair or ruin through neglect or misuse.

   • Years of neglect had dilapidated the once-grand mansion.
   • The harsh weather dilapidated the old wooden fence.
   • They dilapidated the historic building by failing to maintain it.

   🇫🇷délabrer, ruiner

   Synonymes: decaydegradedemolishdestroydeterioratedevastateneglectravageruinwreck

   Antonymes: maintainpreserverenovaterepairrestore

2. Fall into ruin C2 formal

   To become decayed or ruined, especially due to lack of care.

   • The abandoned factory slowly dilapidated over the decades.
   • Without proper upkeep, the barn began to dilapidate.
   • The ancient temple dilapidated after centuries of exposure.

   🇫🇷tomber en ruine

   Synonymes: crumbledecaydeterioratedisintegratefall apartmoulderrot

• dilapidated past participle
• dilapidated past simple
• dilapidating present participle
• dilapidates third person singular