departed 1 of 2

departed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of depart
1
2

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective departed contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of departed are dead, deceased, defunct, and late. While all these words mean "devoid of life," departed is used usually as a euphemism.

our departed sister

When is dead a more appropriate choice than departed?

While in some cases nearly identical to departed, dead applies literally to what is deprived of vital force but is used figuratively of anything that has lost any attribute (such as energy, activity, radiance) suggesting life.

a dead, listless performance

How does the word deceased relate to other synonyms for departed?

Deceased, departed, and late apply to persons who have died recently. Deceased is the preferred term in legal use.

the estate of the deceased

When might defunct be a better fit than departed?

The words defunct and departed are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, defunct stresses cessation of active existence or operation.

a defunct television series

In what contexts can late take the place of departed?

In some situations, the words late and departed are roughly equivalent. However, late is used especially with reference to a person in a specific relation or status.

the company's late president

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 departed
Adjective
Harbaugh reiterated that the draft isn’t the only means by which the Ravens plan to fill the gaps left by departed starters Morgan Moses, Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson. Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 10 Apr. 2024 Christian Yelich remains confident Milwaukee can continue to contend even without departed ace Corbin Burnes and manager Craig Counsell. Steve Megargee, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2024
Verb
Several senior figures have also departed the FIA since Ben Sulayem took over as president at the end of 2021. Luke Smith, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025 The 32-year-old had entered the final months of his previous deal and could have departed Liverpool on a free transfer at the end of the season but that possibility has been ruled out with the Egyptian signing a new two-year contract. The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for departed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for departed
Adjective
  • Back in 1998, Dixon revived a species feared to be extinct: the Corrigin grevillea.
    Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 May 2025
  • In 1969 the Cuyahoga River caught fire, an oil spill in Santa Barbara fouled miles of beach and the bald eagle was nearly extinct.
    Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • Norman Fell and Audra Lindley also exited one season earlier for failed spinoff The Ropers and was replaced by Don Knotts as Ralph Furley, the new landlord.
    Marc Berman, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Mitchell exited the game against Mississippi State on Thursday with a knee injury, and Gates decided to sit him against the Gators.
    Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 15 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • At the time, Colorado had recorded 25 cases, including seven infants who were stillborn or died within months of birth from complications of the infection, and Herlihy said that the state could have more than 100 cases if nothing changed.
    Meg Wingerter, The Denver Post, 28 Jan. 2025
  • Nunn died in 2016 from leukemia at age 63.
    EW.com, EW.com, 28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Getty Images To be sure, some of the discourse has centered around how inflationary pressures have made a handful of these hacks defunct.
    Alex Harring, CNBC, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Christopher Hoenig, a spokesperson for Jersey Central Power & Light, said that the power company de-energized high-voltage lines around the defunct Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Plant to protect the safety of firefighters in the area.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • All four were pronounced deceased at the scene as a result of blunt force injuries sustained in the crash, Allmon said.
    Christopher Cann, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Coogler never knew his grandfather; his great-uncle is now also deceased, but as a youth Coogler spent a lot of time with him.
    Jelani Cobb, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Cline never released a duet or other collaboration, and the new album features nine, including one with Cowboy Copas, who perished in the plane crash with Cline (along with fellow Opry star Hawkshaw Hawkins and Cline’s manager, Randy Hughes).
    Nancy Kruh, People.com, 12 Apr. 2025
  • At least two former Major League Baseball players also perished in the disaster.
    Max Saltman, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The two argued, the cellmate said, and when Williams woke up in the morning, Yarborough was dead.
    Gina Barton, USA Today, 2 May 2025
  • Shelby Dodson was rushed to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead, according to court records.
    Staff Reports, Hartford Courant, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • Bluey has been beloved family viewing since 2018, but the Australian animation went stratospheric this year.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Those bleak years devastated the American rail industry, as revenue fell by 50 percent from 1928 to 1933, and a third of the country’s railroads went into bankruptcy.
    Patrick Sauer, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Dec. 2024

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Departed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/departed. Accessed 9 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on departed

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!