Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective defunct contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of defunct are dead, deceased, departed, and late. While all these words mean "devoid of life," defunct stresses cessation of active existence or operation.

a defunct television series

When is dead a more appropriate choice than defunct?

The meanings of dead and defunct largely overlap; however, 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 defunct?

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 departed be a better fit than defunct?

The words departed and defunct are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, departed is used usually as a euphemism.

our departed sister

When would late be a good substitute for defunct?

While in some cases nearly identical to defunct, 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 defunct 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 The shells are transported to a storage site in East Haven, a defunct quarry that’s high, dry and far enough from homes to avoid any odor issues. Jillian Freyer, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025 The Washington Post: The odyssey of Abrego Garcia begins with a defunct registry. Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 21 Apr. 2025 Homer’s Kitchen Table, the new name for what had been Homer’s West, opened in 2022 after moving from the Galleria Shopping Center, 9700 N. Rodney Parham Road in Little Rock, to part of the defunct Franke’s Cafeteria in the Market Place Shopping Center, 11121 N. Rodney Parham. Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for defunct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defunct
Adjective
  • Five years ago, alula, a beautiful plant found only on coastal cliff habitats on Kauai and Niihau, Hawaii, was declared extinct in the wild.
    Megan Ross, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2025
  • An international team of researchers has found that these creatures would stalk and hunt in the Caribbean islands millions of years after similar predators went extinct on the South American mainland.
    Ashley Belanger – May 16, ArsTechnica, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • Three of the party members — ages 36, 47 and 63 — were pronounced dead at the site, authorities said.
    Escher Walcott, People.com, 13 May 2025
  • The killing of Hind Rajab, the 5-year-old Palestinian girl who was left stranded in a car that had been attacked by Israeli forces in Gaza on Jan. 29 2024 and later found dead, is being made into a drama by Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania, Variety has learned.
    Alex Ritman, Variety, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • Clean out the expired sunscreen first before attempting to recycle the container.
    Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 May 2025
  • Expand All When a Bonner Springs police officer began chasing a man in June 2021 for an expired license plate, speeds on Interstate 70 escalated to 100 mph.
    Katie Moore, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Attendees wore clothes honoring deceased children like Pamela Butler, Angel Hooper, and LeGend Taliferro, paying tribute and wiping tears away during the ceremony.
    PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 17 May 2025
  • Athena’s remarks were made not to her late husband Bobby Nash (Peter Krause), but to Robert Nash Han — the newborn son of Chimney (Kenneth Choi) and Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt), who was named after the recently deceased captain of the 118.
    Jennifer Maas, Variety, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • So many firsts, gone, charred to ash, just remnants of an area that once represented Black prosperity and joy.
    Maya Richard-Craven, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
  • The original pioneers were mostly busy making non-hyperpop or gone: SOPHIE tragically died in 2021; 100 gecs spent years toiling to make their zany stadium-rock second album.
    Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 3 Oct. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Defunct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defunct. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

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