Word
decrepit
Phoneticsde·crepit
US/dəˈkɹɛpɪt/
UK/dɪkɹˈɛpɪt/
Definition
adj. in very bad condition because of being old or not being taken care of. You use this to describe things like old buildings or machines that are falling apart.
adj. in a state of extreme disrepair or decay, typically due to age or neglect. Often used to describe physical structures or mechanical systems that are no longer functional.
Examples
“The old factory is a decrepit building.”
“The city council decided to demolish the decrepit warehouse after it was found to be a fire hazard.”
“The explorer described the decrepit ruins of the ancient temple, noting how centuries of salt air and neglect had eroded the once-majestic stone carvings.”
Examples
simple
“The old factory is a decrepit building.”
contextual
“The city council decided to demolish the decrepit warehouse after it was found to be a fire hazard.”
complex
“The explorer described the decrepit ruins of the ancient temple, noting how centuries of salt air and neglect had eroded the once-majestic stone carvings.”
Real-World Examples
“Chris David has inherited a grand old hotel, but now there’s work to be done renovating the decrepit building during the day and then exorcising unwanted ghosts into the night.” “The decrepit property had single-glazed windows, little insulation and an oil-fired boiler.” Etymology
From Middle English decrepyt (ante 1439), from Middle French décrépit, from Latin dēcrepitus (“very old”), from crepō (“to creak”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.