DEFUNCT Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

defunct

adjective

di-ˈfəŋkt

Definition of defunct

as in extinct

no longer existing a stack of brochures and a few faded placards are all that remain of the defunct organization

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in fallen

no longer living a defunct species that we know only through fossil remains

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 The manufacturer of the Goliath in Valencia was Giovanola — a now-defunct Swiss company. — Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 As with other airlines, Breeze has been adding service at airports once served by the now defunct Spirit Airlines. — David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026 Active and defunct medical practices of all sizes across every region of the state were analyzed. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 12 Oct. 2026 Besides all the visual stimulation, those warehouses and defunct factories also made for excellent studio spaces, and while there wasn’t much housing other than the NYCHA projects, apartments tended to be cheap and spacious, if a bit rundown. — Kim Velsey, Curbed, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for defunct

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defunct

Adjective

Lower and mid-tier bowl games might become extinct, although the six prominent bowls on and around New Year’s Day — Rose, Fiesta, Sugar, Orange, Cotton and Peach — should continue to host the CFP quarterfinals and semifinals.

— Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
The predators were locally extinct in California and the West, surviving mostly in rural Minnesota with another 40 animals in Michigan.

— Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of extinct

Adjective

Troopers found that the vehicle had an expired Ohio registration, the warrant affidavit said.

— Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 14 Oct. 2026
This line of defense didn’t persuade Sweeney, who reasoned that adding athletes with expired eligibility would mean more, not less, market competition.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of expired

Adjective

Two men were found dead inside a Long Beach home after one of them exchanged shots with police and sparked a standoff with SWAT officers in a residential neighborhood early Saturday morning, police said.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2026
The film follows a Polish burglar who assumes the identity of a dead stranger’s girlfriend, with unexpected results.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of dead

Adjective

An America lost to time, remembered in photos The mall’s future is now determined — and its past reveals a version of America perhaps long gone.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Oct. 2026
Suddenly, photos, videos, or important documents are just… gone.

— StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 15 May 2026

Definition of gone

Adjective

The search for a missing plane traveling to Grangeville, Idaho, ended after aircraft wreckage and a deceased pilot and passenger were found Sunday, according to a release from the Washington State Department of Transportation.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
Over the ceasefire’s first six weeks, 30 living hostages and eight deceased were released.

— Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of deceased

Browse Nearby Words

deftness

defunct

defund

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Defunct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defunct. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of defunct

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes