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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Sanders, the tight end going into his third year, was drafted, after all, to provide an explosive and reliable receiving threat that the Panthers haven’t had since Greg Olsen departed in 2019. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 7 Sep. 2026 Her onscreen sister Jenna Ortega then departed the project, as did incoming director Christopher Landon. — Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for departed

Recent Examples of Synonyms for departed

Adjective

By the ’50s, the accessory that launched a riot was virtually extinct.

— Michele Metych Britannica Editors Sep. 4, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Sep. 2026
Now the smell has gone, unforgotten by elderly noses but irretrievably extinct.

— Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of extinct

Verb

Janai Norman exited the program in April after her contract was not renewed.

— Ted Johnson, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026
Martin Herlihy, who previously appeared on-screen for four seasons as a member of Please Don’t Destroy and worked in the writers room on Season 51, has also exited the show.

— Selome Hailu, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of exited

Verb

On September 9, the Prince of Wales will represent the British royal family at the funeral of King Harald V of Norway, who died at 89 years old on August 28.

— Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 6 Sep. 2026
Dotson was taken to a hospital and died about nine hours after he was shot.

— Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of died

Adjective

The idea was to disburse savings achieved by cuts enacted by the now-defunct Department of Government Efficiency — then led by Musk — to the American population, but never materialized.

— Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026
With Doak’s game clock defunct, ESPN peeled off one of its scorebug operators to shadow the officials, starting and stopping the on-screen time by hand, second by second.

— Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of defunct

Verb

Michigan was 80 yards from the end zone with 10 seconds remaining and hadn’t moved the ball at all since its first drive.

— Austin Meek, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Had moved from my very small town in northern Va to the big city of Richmond to begin my new career as a management trainee with a local bank at the princely sum of $11,000 per year at age 22.

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of moved

Verb

Four women and an infant are among the victims who perished, the organization confirmed to The Independent.

— Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
More than 1,100 people perished when a huge glacier and rock landslide high in the Himalayas triggered fast-moving floodwaters that struck Nepal and China on the morning of August 26.

— Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of perished

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“Departed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/departed. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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