: suffering the death of a loved one
bereaved families of the victims
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
Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025
Another time, Bruce Springsteen cheers up her bereaved 12-year-old son by taking him for his first motorcycle ride — a fatherly promise that Fred Smith didn’t live long enough to fulfill.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for bereaved
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.
Adjective
Seeing how Tŷ Hafan helps the children and families in a holistic manner, Princess Kate was introduced to bereaved families supported by the hospice throughout their children’s lives, deaths, and beyond.
—Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025
Another time, Bruce Springsteen cheers up her bereaved 12-year-old son by taking him for his first motorcycle ride — a fatherly promise that Fred Smith didn’t live long enough to fulfill.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for bereaved
Cite this Entry
“Bereaved.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bereaved. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bereaved
1 of 2 adjective
be·reaved
bi-ˈrēvd 
: suffering the death of a loved one
bereaved family members
bereaved
2 of 2 noun
plural bereaved
: a person who is bereaved
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share