DEPARTED Synonyms: 189 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

departed 1 of 2

adjective

di-ˈpär-təd

Definition of departed

as in extinct

no longer existing a few crumbling ruins are all that remain of that departed civilization

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in fallen

no longer living our dear departed friend

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departed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of depart

as in exited

to leave a place often for another I'll sing one more song before I depart

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as in died

to stop living a special tribute for those members of the motion picture academy who have departed over the past year

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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

Judaism approaches these moments with deep sensitivity, offering guidance not to judge or criticize, but to bring dignity, comfort, and peace—to the soul of the departed and to those left behind. — Rabbi Moishe Kievman, Sun Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2026

Verb

He was then pulled onto the tracks and run over as the train departed the station. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 29 Sep. 2026 After an anecdote having to do with cocaine use in another band around the time that guitarist Jimmy McColloch departed, Apatow asked if drugs were a big issue in Wings starting to fall apart in the late ’70s, but McCartney balked at that idea. — Chris Willman, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for departed

Recent Examples of Synonyms for departed

Adjective

This year, organizers say there will be more than 200 lots available for auction, including at least one plant, Mexipedium xerophyticum ‘Oaxaca’, donated by the Huntington, that is considered extinct in the wild.

— Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
This is no castle hotel, however; instead, it's set at the base of Edinburgh's extinct volcano, Arthur's Seat.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of extinct

Adjective

Crab shells, whole and in pieces, turned up all over the school, to be swept away with the dust and fallen leaves and other litter, placed in a trash bag, and carried off behind the buildings to the incinerator.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
Romaine said crews were clearing drains and chopping up fallen trees.

— Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of fallen

Verb

Cindy Holland, who led Paramount’s streaming division, exited yesterday, paving the way for HBO chief Casey Bloys to take the reins.

— Brian Welk, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2026
Grande also withdrew from the upcoming London West End revival of Sunday in the Park With George, which was scrapped after Jonathan Bailey also exited the production.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of exited

Verb

Alexei Tsydenov, head of the nearby Republic of Buryatia, said the woman had died from an unspecified form of plague.

— Jenny Lee, CNBC, 5 Oct. 2026
Samuel, or Samuil in Bulgarian, was a warrior emperor who battled the Byzantine Empire to expand his kingdom but was ultimately defeated and died shortly afterward in 1014.

— COSTAS KANTOURIS, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of died

Adjective

Lively had been with Sloane for more than two decades, dating to the early days of her acting career when Sloane was a senior rep at the now-defunct firm BWR.

— Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026
This type of interference can effectively render a targeted spacecraft defunct, blocking critical military navigation and intel.

— Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of defunct

Adjective

This particular set of remains—46 crania stored at Cambridge University—came from the Umm el-Qaab cemetery, which contains subsidiary burials presumed to be retainers of deceased First Dynasty rulers.

— Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 5 Oct. 2026
The other deceased person was inside a silver Jeep that collided with the school bus.

— Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of deceased

Verb

Use artificial intelligence to identify people who have moved or changed names.

— Mark Lewyn, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
The season has moved beyond introductions, and Saturday offers another chance to learn which teams are built to stay in the postseason conversation.

— Wilton Jackson, AJC.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of moved

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“Departed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/departed. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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