departed

adjective

de·part·ed di-ˈpär-təd

dē-

Synonyms of departed next

: bygone

departed days

: having died especially recently

mourning our departed friend

Choose the Right Synonym for departed

dead, defunct, deceased, departed, late mean devoid of life.

dead applies literally to what is deprived of vital force but is used figuratively of anything that has lost any attribute (such as energy, activity, radiance) suggesting life.

a dead, listless performance

defunct stresses cessation of active existence or operation.

a defunct television series

deceased, departed, and late apply to persons who have died recently.

deceased is the preferred term in legal use.

the estate of the deceased

departed is used usually as a euphemism.

our departed sister

late is used especially with reference to a person in a specific relation or status.

the company's late president

Examples of departed in a Sentence

a few crumbling ruins are all that remain of that departed civilization

Recent Examples on the Web The three departed board members were safety-conscious and reportedly opposed Altman’s aggressive plans to monetize OpenAI’s technology; their ouster seems to have paved the way for Altman’s return. —

Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 27 Nov. 2023 Now that This Morning in the U.K. is looking for replacements for the departed Holly Willoughby, the ex-wife of Prince Andrew has reportedly been linked to the job. —

Simon Perry, Peoplemag, 9 Nov. 2023 In the house and its surrounding clearing, death doesn’t divide the five generations of family members from one another; rather, the departed, wearing white and beaming beatifically, keep turning up to matchmake and interfere. —

Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2023 The Ravens need someone to step in for the departed Josh Oliver, who evolved into one of top blocking tight ends in football and an unsung hero for last year’s team. —

Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 6 Aug. 2023 With stark simplicity, Julio Larraz captures the duality of the blue seas, as both path and barrier, while also suggesting the nostalgia of the departed and the longings of those who remain. —

Javier Zamora, Foreign Affairs, 28 Feb. 2023 In addition to those who sought some kind of physical contact with either the departed or the new monarch, many more went to churches and cathedrals to express their grief and pray for the new reign. —

Town & Country, 5 May 2023 Los Angeles’ beloved and departed mountain lion is getting a library card. —

Dorany Pinedastaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2023 Charlotte and Anne are both horrified and ensorcelled, begging for any kind of contact with the departed and overcome with emotion at how Emily channels their mother’s kind thoughts. —

Kyle Smith, WSJ, 16 Feb. 2023 See More

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