decrepit Definition
de·crepit (dē krep′it, di-)
adjective
broken down or worn out by old age, illness, or long use
Etymology: ME & OFr < L decrepitus < de-, intens. + crepitus, pp. of crepare, to creak, rattle (in LL, to burst, die): see craven
decrepit Related Forms
de·crep′·itly adverb
decrepit Synonyms
decrepit Usage Examples
Modifies a noun
- state: Knighton wrote: However, given the decrepit state of most of the buildings, I have to disagree with the idea of renovation.
- building: Roll up, roll up, to cast your vote in the BBC's beauty contest for decrepit old buildings.
- picture: Look like one of the decrepit pictures, he was nine o'clock the familiar sound of the key turning made him from his slumbers.
- house: Holly Black was born in a decrepit Victorian house in New Jersey.
- man: A thin, somewhat decrepit man slowly edged in.
- body: I shall not stop until I've shown this this poet of decrepit bodies the insolent idiot that he is!
Modifying Another Word
- increasingly: Regardless of the ever-increasing workload shouldered by working people, industry is in an increasingly decrepit state.
- too: As many as I can fit in before I'm too decrepit to operate a computer.
- very: MURPHY was thought to be for sale to Mr. T. Burdett, and also that it was " very decrepit " .
- somewhat: A thin, somewhat decrepit man slowly edged in.
- now: The structure which foreshadowed the beauties of Art Deco architecture is now decrepit, boarded up and marked for demolition.
- rather: At this spot there is a line of rather decrepit trees, bent at odd angles by the strong prevailing winds.
Used with adjective complement
Browse dictionary entries near decrepit
- ‹ decrement
- ‹ decree
- ‹ decrease
- ‹ decoy
- ‹ decoupling trade
- ‹ decoupling
- ‹ decouple
- ‹ decoupage
- ‹ decorum
- ‹ decorticate
- decrepitate ›
- decrepitude ›
- decrescendo ›
- decrescent ›
- decretal ›
- decretory ›
- decriminalization ›
- decriminalize ›
- decry ›
- decrypt ›

