departed 1 of 2

departed

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verb

past tense of depart
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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
Farewell to Vivek Ramaswamy (good riddance, as the Trump toady was a rude, insulting embarrassment) and to Asa Hutchinson (who, along with the departed Chris Christie, were the only ones who correctly and honorably said that criminal convictions should disqualify Trump). New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 17 Jan. 2024 Harbaugh reiterated that the draft isn’t the only means by which the Ravens plan to fill the gaps left by departed starters Morgan Moses, Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson. Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 10 Apr. 2024
Verb
Several senior figures have also departed the FIA since Ben Sulayem took over as president at the end of 2021. Luke Smith, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025 The 32-year-old had entered the final months of his previous deal and could have departed Liverpool on a free transfer at the end of the season but that possibility has been ruled out with the Egyptian signing a new two-year contract. The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for departed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for departed
Adjective
  • Deep-seafloor-dwelling foraminifera, which were far away from the surface and were able to keep feeding on the remains of dead organisms, were mostly fine, but nine out of 10 planktonic species went extinct.
    Tim Vernimmen, JSTOR Daily, 19 June 2025
  • Why experts are worried February 10, 2025 12:19 PM Read Next World ‘Tiny’ creature went extinct in wild decades ago.
    Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • Norman Fell and Audra Lindley also exited one season earlier for failed spinoff The Ropers and was replaced by Don Knotts as Ralph Furley, the new landlord.
    Marc Berman, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Mitchell exited the game against Mississippi State on Thursday with a knee injury, and Gates decided to sit him against the Gators.
    Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 15 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • At the time, Colorado had recorded 25 cases, including seven infants who were stillborn or died within months of birth from complications of the infection, and Herlihy said that the state could have more than 100 cases if nothing changed.
    Meg Wingerter, The Denver Post, 28 Jan. 2025
  • Nunn died in 2016 from leukemia at age 63.
    EW.com, EW.com, 28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • One is even housed in a former Old County Buffet, the now defunct all-you-can-eat restaurant chain which closed its last Illinois restaurant five years ago.
    Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2025
  • Six years ago, two school executives from the now defunct A3 charter school were embroiled in controversy.
    Windi Eklund, Oc Register, 17 June 2025
Adjective
  • Though some were at Hama to support downtown, many came to pay their respects to the memory of recently deceased owner Tsutomu Iyama.
    Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2025
  • The team also facilitated a guest’s purchase of nearly 4,500 pounds of rice to donate to a monastery in Bhutan, as well as a celebration-of-life remembrance ceremony in the Serengeti for another’s deceased loved one, led by Masai elders.
    Alexandra Kirkman, Fortune, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • Cline never released a duet or other collaboration, and the new album features nine, including one with Cowboy Copas, who perished in the plane crash with Cline (along with fellow Opry star Hawkshaw Hawkins and Cline’s manager, Randy Hughes).
    Nancy Kruh, People.com, 12 Apr. 2025
  • At least two former Major League Baseball players also perished in the disaster.
    Max Saltman, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The suspect in the attack was found dead late on Sunday, according to law enforcement.
    Kirk Siegler, NPR, 30 June 2025
  • The cause of death has been revealed for a social media influencer who was found dead near an Arizona trailhead after being reported missing.
    Pilar Arias, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • Bluey has been beloved family viewing since 2018, but the Australian animation went stratospheric this year.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Those bleak years devastated the American rail industry, as revenue fell by 50 percent from 1928 to 1933, and a third of the country’s railroads went into bankruptcy.
    Patrick Sauer, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Dec. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Departed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/departed. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

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