default 1 of 2

as in negligence
the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action a default in the repayment of a bank loan

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

default

2 of 2

verb

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of default
Noun
Considering the chance of criminal prosecution, some doctors now default to what many pregnancy loss experts view as an overly cautious method for diagnosing miscarriage: ultrasound images alone, using criteria from the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound. Kavitha Surana, CNN Money, 2 July 2025 Bengals management this past summer accused the county of defaulting on the lease for Paycor Stadium and broke off talks with the county, according to correspondence that was first reported by the Cincinnati Business Courier. Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Verb
Prior to the bankruptcy filing, however, there were a number of indicators that Merit TV was undergoing a rocky start to its life — even putting aside the questionable notion of launching a linear TV venture in a time when streaming is the default option for the largest share of viewers. Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2025 That image is a pretty accurate reflection of what American cities used to look like by default. Marina Bolotnikova, Vox, 7 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for default
Recent Examples of Synonyms for default
Noun
  • There had to be some human hand at work engineering this great misfortune — even if only through negligence.
    The Editors, National Review, 7 July 2025
  • The lawsuit alleges negligent infliction of emotional distress and negligence, according to the Connecticut Mirror. Anthony Spinella, her attorney, told the Connecticut Mirror that Ortiz was seeking $3 million in damages.
    Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2025
Verb
  • Too many times last year the line would just ignore somebody running right at them.
    Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 11 July 2025
  • Why is natural gas to be ignored when American gas is clean and cost effective?
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • The changes address failures uncovered a year ago by the ProPublica/CBS News investigation.
    Cassandra Jaramillo, ProPublica, 12 July 2025
  • Ford is recalling over 850,000 vehicles due to a potential low-pressure fuel pump failure, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA.
    Julia Gomez, USA Today, 12 July 2025
Verb
  • And if the expansionists prevail, the customer is being disregarded at alarming levels here.
    Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 10 July 2025
  • Tariffs are raising costs while public discourse increasingly disregards science itself.
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025
Noun
  • Police always investigate a drowning to rule out cases of abuse or extreme neglect, but an absent-minded parent accidentally forgetting to lock the pool gate or door to the backyard was unlikely to land them behind bars, Hoskin said.
    Elena Santa Cruz, AZCentral.com, 12 July 2025
  • Not only in the United States, where academic medical centers (AMCs) are strained by politics, profit models and bureaucracy—but also in countries like Mexico, where health systems are crumbling under neglect and underfunding.
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • Unfortunately, the sections of Douglass’s speech lauding American principles had been omitted.
    Frederic J. Fransen, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 July 2025
  • During his last presidency, Trump supported policies to investigate citizenship cases to see if people lied or omitted facts.
    Jolene Almendarez, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Verb
  • He was left out of the 2024 T20 World Cup roster and passed over for multiple tours abroad.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
  • Then he gets hit by a bus and, while in a coma, gets passed over again in favor of John Stewart.
    Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • Related article Gay rights icon Harvey Milk’s legacy slighted by decision to rename Navy ship Wald says that waiting to transition can create additional psychological distress for a child and can raise their risk of depression, suicidality, self-harm or substance misuse.
    Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 18 June 2025
  • Despite Meg’s efforts to connect, Ellen (Kyra Sedgwick) repeatedly slights her future daughter-in-law.
    Natalia Winkelman, New York Times, 22 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Default.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/default. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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