bereaved

1 of 2

adjective

be·​reaved bi-ˈrēvd How to pronounce bereaved (audio)
bē-
: suffering the death of a loved one
bereaved families of the victims

bereaved

2 of 2

noun

plural bereaved
: someone who is suffering the death of a loved one : one who is bereaved
comfort the bereaved

Examples of bereaved in a Sentence

Adjective the bereaved parents of the victims the grief of the bereaved parents seemed to be without limit
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
But five years later, there’s little closure for Khashoggi and his bereaved relatives and friends. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 4 Oct. 2023 Occasionally, these pirate sites go a step further, manipulating bereaved people into buying sympathy gifts like candles or flowers and pocketing the money. WIRED, 22 Sep. 2023 Military retirees and bereaved families on the Survivor Benefit Plan can expect to continue to receive their pension checks. Melissa Quinn, Kathryn Watson, Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 22 Sep. 2023 However, the two bereaved families are worried that a serial killer is out there and may be seeking their next victim. Melissa Noel, Essence, 19 Sep. 2023 This group is personified by Aimee Dunkle, a bereaved mom from Orange County and a board member of Grief Recovery After a Substance Passing, or GRASP. Zachary Siegel, The New Republic, 27 June 2023 Amal Selim, 54, and Sara Ali, 34, bereaved family On Aug. 14, Amal Selim’s husband, Mohamed Ali, a hospital administrator and member of the Muslim Brotherhood, left home to go to Rabaa Square. Siobhán O'Grady, Washington Post, 14 Aug. 2023 However, a survey conducted by the Compassionate Friends, a leading bereavement organization, revealed that only 16% of bereaved parents end up divorcing, debunking the age-old myth that 70% to 90% of bereaved parents split up. Jason Armond, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2023 Each loss left an army of bereaved parents livid, and none more than the Capeloutos. Zachary Siegel, The New Republic, 27 June 2023
Noun
The bereaved can heal, suicide prevention experts say, but their pain is often underestimated. Alia E. Dastagir, USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2022 The bereaved had reached out to Jones, who plans to help them find an attorney to settle the issue. Shelia Poole, ajc, 19 Nov. 2021 Both those who have lost a loved one and professionals serving the bereaved can get help finding government resources as well as crisis-relief services and more. Jennifer Wolff, Good Housekeeping, 17 Nov. 2020 But while the commemorations were cathartic, Chellat said, government support for the bereaved has been lacking: Some didn’t know how to find help. Karla Adam, Washington Post, 13 June 2018 Survivors and the bereaved observed the silence at the foot Grenfell Tower, where a new mosaic was unveiled. Karla Adam, Washington Post, 14 June 2018 Veterans like the Phillipses serve as guides in the immediate aftermath, introducing the bereaved of Sandy Hook to those of San Bernardino and the parents of Virginia Tech to those of Roseburg, in a loose but growing network. Vivian Yee, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2018 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bereaved.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see bereave

Noun

see bereave

First Known Use

Adjective

1702, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1798, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bereaved was in 1702

Dictionary Entries Near bereaved

Cite this Entry

“Bereaved.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bereaved. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

bereaved

1 of 2 adjective
be·​reaved bi-ˈrēvd How to pronounce bereaved (audio)
: suffering the death of a loved one
bereaved family members

bereaved

2 of 2 noun
plural bereaved
: a person who is bereaved

More from Merriam-Webster on bereaved

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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