bereaved 1 of 2

Definition of bereavednext
as in grieving
suffering the death of a loved one the grief of the bereaved parents seemed to be without limit

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bereaved

2 of 2

verb

variants or bereft
past tense of bereave
as in deprived
to take something away from news of a death in the family bereaved them of the unmitigated joy that normally prevails at a wedding

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of bereaved
Adjective
During his visit, Evans toured impact sites caused by enemy missiles, met wounded civilians and Holocaust survivors, and provided $50,000 in financial assistance to a bereaved family. Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026 The survivors and bereaved families in The Tribe of Nova don’t have a community. Jessica Tzikas, Sun Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
Things culminate in a fatal accident in Florida, where the bereaved hold Tesla accountable via a lawsuit. Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026 But there would inevitably be some who insisted that the bereaved also join in the singing. Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bereaved
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bereaved
Verb
  • The loss of Bregman to the Chicago Cubs already had deprived the Sox’s young hitters of a strong influence.
    Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
  • The fall of Assad in December 2024 deprived Russia of its one reliable ally in the region.
    Jeffrey Taliaferro, The Conversation, 11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • In a season with only 11 musicals and otherwise bereft of serious scores, that was, to say the least, unfortunate.
    Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
  • Observing tips The lunar disk is entirely bereft of shadows during the full moon phase, making this the perfect time to trace the outline of lunar maria — where lava flows filled colossal impact basins billions of years ago before hardening to form sweeping basaltic plains.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • No injuries were reported, but the tsunami stripped vegetation from steep rock lining the near 25 mile-long fjord with cliffs stretching more than 3,280 feet high, according to Dan Shugar, lead author of the study published May 6 in the journal Science.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 6 May 2026
  • After one mistake too many and a little Machiavellian interference courtesy of his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Thor is stripped of his divine powers and banished to Earth, sentenced to live among the rest of us unworthy mortals.
    Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 6 May 2026
Adjective
  • The main character is an introverted English teacher named Richard Garay, who lives a very quiet and small life, in the shadow of his widowed mother.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 6 May 2026
  • Several conspiracy theories have emerged in the wake of the assassination, taking an emotional toll on the widowed mother of two.
    Peter D'Abrosca, FOXNews.com, 3 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bereaved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bereaved. Accessed 10 May. 2026.

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