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
There’s a real industrial approach to the sound — hard, percussive rhythms beneath the plush interior of melody, and lyrics that are just about the most fun a listener can have pretending he, too, is this glamorously besotted or gloriously bereft.
—
New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
There had been one ceremony after another for the Kings’ all-time leading scorer, but Anže Kopitar’s farewell game was largely bereft of pomp, circumstance and, for his squad, offense.
—Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
The Paris fashion shows were bereft without her.
—Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 23 Mar. 2026
Now the reality of losing Beryl to cancer in an NHS hospital overlooking Camden Town, opera floating down the halls at her request, left us all completely bereft.
—Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bereft
New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
There had been one ceremony after another for the Kings’ all-time leading scorer, but Anže Kopitar’s farewell game was largely bereft of pomp, circumstance and, for his squad, offense.
—Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
The Paris fashion shows were bereft without her.
—Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 23 Mar. 2026
Now the reality of losing Beryl to cancer in an NHS hospital overlooking Camden Town, opera floating down the halls at her request, left us all completely bereft.
—Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bereft
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bereft
Adjective
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School Board leadership said Monday that the policy was formed with the help of bereaved mothers, mental health experts and high school principals.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
12 May 2026
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Carie Hallford was the public face of Return to Nature, dealing with bereaved customers at the couple's funeral home in Colorado Springs.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Long, patient takes devoid of nondiegetic elements immerse us in Misael’s rudimentary existence, with birdsong and cracking branches working together with DP Cobi Migliori’s handsome long-shot compositions to create a trancelike atmosphere.—
Beatrice Loayza,
Variety,
16 May 2026
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The first is that, for now at least, this is a fairly low-key and easy-to-watch western drama, largely devoid of the culture war button-pushing that makes Sheridan shows likeLandman and The Madison so maddening.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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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
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Wait times, and particularly in the emergency department, wait times were skyrocketing, patient satisfaction, and everybody was just generally unhappy.—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
9 May 2026
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Sources have told Deadline that Fox was originally unhappy with the creative on Season 14 of the show, but collaborated with the creative team and was ultimately sated.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Bereft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bereft. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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