bereave

verb

bi-ˈrēv How to pronounce bereave (audio)
Definition of bereavenext
as in to deprive
to take something away from news of a death in the family bereaved them of the unmitigated joy that normally prevails at a wedding

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bereave
  1. deprive
  2. strip
Verb
  • Khalil’s lawyers, citing the law, argue government officials are prohibited from collaborating with private individuals in ways that deprive citizens of their constitutional rights.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 14 July 2026
  • Researchers have argued that allowing private buyers to own such specimens deprives paleontologists the opportunity to study them.
    — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 14 July 2026
Definition of deprive
Verb
  • Yet there is something singularly unbecoming about a franchise as American as Superman (and its adjuncts) being willfully stripped of its patriotism and good cheer.
    — Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 11 July 2026
  • The internet casually scrambles basic ideas of personhood, reframing people as commodities and stripping us for parts.
    — Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 11 July 2026
Definition of strip
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Bereave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bereave. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bereave

Nglish: Translation of bereave for Spanish Speakers

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