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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The survivors and bereaved families in The Tribe of Nova don’t have a community.—
Jessica Tzikas,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
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Sheep in the Box — its title drawn from The Little Prince — is set in the near future, where a bereaved couple welcomes a state-of-the-art humanoid into their home as a surrogate for their dead son.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
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
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That devoid ingredient hindered things exponentially.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Feb. 2024
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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Auriemma was apparently unhappy with the officiating in the game and the disparity in free throw shooting.—
Lori Riley,
Hartford Courant,
4 Apr. 2026
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Despite the changes, some in the Senate were still unhappy with the final iteration.—
Keely Doll,
Louisville Courier Journal,
2 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 10 Apr. 2026.
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