BEREFT Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

bereft

adjective

bi-ˈreft

as in bereaved

suffering the death of a loved one to one investigator, the bereft woman seemed to be taking the sudden death of her rich husband amazingly well

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in devoid

utterly lacking in something needed, wanted, or expected a cheap motel completely bereft of all amenities

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 bereft The attack left Australia's Jewish community bereft and traumatized. —

Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025 Still bereft and furious, Aggie is trying to get on with her job, at least, while living alone in a big, dilapidated house with only a little white dog named Steve for company. —

Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Nov. 2025 Gone are the days when players left academies ill-equipped for a world outside of the game, bruised and bereft. —

George Caulkin, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025 Ian Wilkinson, a pastor at a local church and the sole surviving guest of the lunch, told last month's hearing that the death of his wife had left him bereft. —

Alasdair Pal, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bereft

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bereft

Adjective

But survivors and bereaved families of the deceased hostages are more critical of the government celebrations.

— Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
The criticisms were contained in reports into the deaths of 48 migrant workers from Bangladesh, India and Nepal, and centred on the lack of safety provisions made on construction sites, the failure to properly investigate accidents and the speed with which bereaved families are compensated.

— Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026