1
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
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2
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
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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
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
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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
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Amina and Amal’s bereaved husband introduce her to American life.—
Sandra Dallas,
Denver Post,
6 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Banking has become functionally correct but emotionally devoid, with the industry swimming in a sea of sameness.—
Michael Abbott,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
-
That devoid ingredient hindered things exponentially.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Feb. 2024
Adjective
-
And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.—
David Mamet,
National Review,
11 Aug. 2022
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The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Adjective
-
This is a no-win situation because one of us will end up unhappy.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
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The automaker spent much of the year undoing decisions made by the previous CEO, Carlos Tavares, who resigned at the end of 2024, as stakeholders in the company — from dealers to union rank and file — were upset with him and unhappy with his leadership.—
Liam Rappleye,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The film centers on a widowed fisherwoman, travelling alone through snowbound northern Minnesota, who interrupts the kidnapping of a teenage girl.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bereft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bereft. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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