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
In movies like Sátántangó, Werckmeister Harmonies, and his extraordinary swan song, 2011’s The Turin Horse, the Hungarian filmmaker crafted dreamlike narratives populated with disillusioned, spiritually bereft characters facing harsh realities.
—
Tim Grierson, Rolling Stone, 6 Jan. 2026
Families physically pulled apart by uncaring hands over the outraged screams of the bereft?
—Leonard Pitts Jr, Miami Herald, 1 Jan. 2026
Especially here—confused, bereft, and excommunicate.
—David Searcy, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Relatives of Lear, the legendary producer who died in 2023, said the Reiners’ deaths left them bereft.
—Christopher Weber, Fortune, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bereft
Tim Grierson, Rolling Stone, 6 Jan. 2026
Families physically pulled apart by uncaring hands over the outraged screams of the bereft?
—Leonard Pitts Jr, Miami Herald, 1 Jan. 2026
Especially here—confused, bereft, and excommunicate.
—David Searcy, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Relatives of Lear, the legendary producer who died in 2023, said the Reiners’ deaths left them bereft.
—Christopher Weber, Fortune, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bereft
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bereft
Adjective
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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
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Held on the eve of Israel’s Memorial Day, the annual Israeli-Palestinian joint memorial ceremony, now in its 21st year, connects bereaved families from both sides of a conflict that shows no signs of ending.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Too often, supporters have felt the players have struggled to even offer that, with meek away performances against Sunderland (3-0 defeat), Brighton & Hove Albion (2-0 defeat) and Everton (2-0 defeat) displaying a side devoid of belief and beaten before kick-off.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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In addition to the entire resort being devoid of single-use plastic, the property also participates in marine conservation efforts that include coral restoration and turtle rehabilitation.—
Christina Liao,
Vogue,
23 Apr. 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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Fast-forward to the April 7 special election brought to a ballot by residents unhappy with the changes.—
John Aguilar,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
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One of them, Amy, a blond child with limp ponytails and a thin dress that looks like it might have been stained, stands outside a porch door, her fists balled up, mouth open, angry or unhappy or both.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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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
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With Season 4 comes a potential new flame for the widowed Violet (Ruth Gemmell) in the form of one Lord Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis).—
Emily Kelleher,
InStyle,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bereft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bereft. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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