default 1 of 2

noun

di-ˈfȯlt How to pronounce default (audio)
Definition of defaultnext
as in negligence
the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action a default in the repayment of a bank loan

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

default

2 of 2

verb

as in to ignore

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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
Nothing’s default Balanced EQ setting is forward in the mids and highs. — John Higgins, The Verge, 29 Sep. 2026 These questions matter more now because Arkansas no longer operates under a single default model of education. — Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026
Verb
Under the settlement, teen accounts would default to a setting that limits cumulative use across both Facebook and Instagram to two hours per day. — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026 As Built In reported, when managers reward accelerated output above all else, employees default to quantity over quality, and those on the receiving end spend extra time fixing what AI produced. — Dan Schawbel, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for default
Recent Examples of Synonyms for default
  1. negligence
  2. ignore
  3. failure
  4. disregard
  5. neglect
  6. omit
  7. pass over
  8. slight
Noun
  • The suit alleges that Fox's actions rise to the level of corporate negligence under the Ukrainian civil code.
    — David Folkenflik, NPR, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Irene Perretta died in 2025 at 80 years old after being treated at the Bridgeport Hospital Milford Campus, according to a negligence lawsuit filed by her family.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of negligence
Verb
  • Kalra’s bill would have added, in essence, an official recognition to state law that California’s water rights system ignores how land was taken from Native Americans during colonization.
    — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Most of them appear gradually, which is exactly why they get ignored.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of ignore
Noun
  • Let Congress know how dire the situation is (or will be, if there’s a failure to act).
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The stunning failure in Tennessee's execution chamber on Wednesday has left both sides of the death penalty debate demanding answers.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of failure
Verb
  • In the tape of the 9-1-1 call, Randolph can be heard disregarding paramedic’s orders, giving Causse chest compressions even after he was instructed to not touch the body.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Problems also arise, agents say, when a community’s history is disregarded.
    — Emily Hochberg, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of disregard
Noun
  • Each critic portrayed the historical monument as an object of reverence owing to age, with specific reference to the psycho-historical implications of restoration or, conversely, of neglect.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The exemptions don’t just shield faith-healing parents from criminal prosecution for conduct that otherwise would be charged as neglect.
    — Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of neglect
Verb
  • The articles by Davidson and Craven in this sense exemplify a broader transphobic trend in the UK legacy media that minimizes or omits reference to the suffering of trans people.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten has said Cornell police omitted key information that could have affected his decision whether or not to pursue criminal charges.
    — Hallie Golden, Chicago Tribune, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of omit
Verb
  • In the third quarter, T-Mac grabbed a pass over the middle and sped into the end zone for a 10-yard TD.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The spacecraft must launch when the station’s orbital plane passes over the launch site.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of pass over
Verb
  • Yet what follows is an extended list of ethical sins, with a focus on the sins of abusive speech, such as slandering, slurring, slighting and smearing the reputations of others.
    — Reuven Kimelman, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The other four QBs peaked inside the top 10 last season, so they’ve all been slighted to a degree with the initial rankings of 2026.
    — Jeff Howe, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of slight

Browse Nearby Words

defatted
default
defaulted
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Default.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/default. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name tags
Words Named After People Quiz Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
See All