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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

American Airlines flight 339 departed shortly thereafter and reached Georgetown, an airline spokesperson told the Herald. — Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026 Halo hasn’t been the same since original developer Bungie — now owned by Sony and working on Destiny and Marathon — departed, leaving 343 Industries (now Halo Studios) to guide the franchise. — Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for departed

Recent Examples of Synonyms for departed

Adjective

The company has pursued efforts to recreate extinct species, including the dodo and woolly mammoth.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
This crane had nearly gone extinct before, driven in part by an explosion of new hydroelectric dams in the early 20th century, whose construction dried out local wetlands.

— Sara Herschander, Vox, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of extinct

Adjective

While Kyiv and Moscow have maintained limited contact to organize prisoner exchanges and the return of fallen soldiers, previous talks have made no progress on the security arrangements needed to sustain a peace deal.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
When the men return from Sheriffmuir with the bodies of their fallen comrades, Colum has to grapple with his role in their deaths.

— Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of fallen

Verb

Three people died at the scene and a fourth man later died in hospital, regional military administration head Oleksandr Hanzha reported, while over a dozen people were injured.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
The crash came three weeks after 17 people died in an accident along the same highway linking the capital, Nairobi, with the coastal city of Mombasa.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of died

Adjective

In 1996, when the report was compiled by the now-defunct Amusement Business trade publication, the list was topped by Tokyo Disneyland, followed by Anaheim’s Disneyland.

— Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Oct. 2026
Shortly after approving the settlement in a unanimous vote, the police jury took up a motion to appoint seven people to the Vermilion Parish Industrial Development Board, a body that had been defunct for nearly 30 years.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of defunct

Adjective

Later in the day, a California Highway Patrol helicopter located a deceased climber on that route, but a storm system soon moved into the area, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
Professor Frink reanimates his formerly deceased father after winning the Nobel Prize, but the elder Frink, not content with his current body, steals parts and organs from other humans.

— Joshua Kurp, Vulture, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of deceased

Verb

In the aftermath, Blue Origin has moved with uncharacteristic speed to repair its launch pad to get New Glenn flying again, while investing $3 billion in Florida facilities to support a much higher launch cadence.

— Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 29 Oct. 2026
Kelce also moved past Marvin Harrison and Cris Carter on the all-time receptions list.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of moved

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“Departed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/departed. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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