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
Relevance
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
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
Over there, in a 67,000-square-foot building that’s hardly bereft, staring at evidence of a national title drought four decades long, Darian DeVries works on reintroducing college basketball to a place that should be on good terms with it.
—
Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 11 July 2025
Hong-rang, the beloved child of a wealthy Joseon merchant family, vanishes into thin air, leaving half-sister Jae-yi (Cho Bo-ah), mother Min Yeon-ui (Uhm Ji-won), and father Sim Yeol-guk (Park Byung-eun) bereft and the future of the guild unclear.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 16 May 2025
Another gentleman comes up from behind Sophie and asks for her hand in a dance, leaving Benedict bereft and definitely wanting more.
—Julia Moore, People.com, 14 May 2025
Advocates want more states to adopt basic guidelines with hopes more missing people will be found, volunteers will be better protected and bereft families won't fall victim to searchers-for-hire schemes.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bereft
Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 11 July 2025
Hong-rang, the beloved child of a wealthy Joseon merchant family, vanishes into thin air, leaving half-sister Jae-yi (Cho Bo-ah), mother Min Yeon-ui (Uhm Ji-won), and father Sim Yeol-guk (Park Byung-eun) bereft and the future of the guild unclear.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 16 May 2025
Another gentleman comes up from behind Sophie and asks for her hand in a dance, leaving Benedict bereft and definitely wanting more.
—Julia Moore, People.com, 14 May 2025
Advocates want more states to adopt basic guidelines with hopes more missing people will be found, volunteers will be better protected and bereft families won't fall victim to searchers-for-hire schemes.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bereft
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bereft
Adjective
-
For 450 pages, Rudy learns to chase ambulances, falls in love, and serves his single important client, a bereaved mother whose son’s medical insurance claim was illegitimately denied.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
-
In recent weeks, Kim finally acknowledged the loss of troops, holding two events in August to meet bereaved families.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Adjective
-
Both Ways on Netflix The Lovebirds In the 2020 adventure comedy The Lovebirds, Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani play an unhappy couple on the brink of splitting up.—
James Mercadante,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
-
But surveys have also shown many reservists are unhappy with the cabinet's plans, some openly accusing the government of lacking a cohesive strategy, a post-war plan for Gaza or a clear benchmark for victory.—
Emily Rose,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
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 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share