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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who held a Cabinet-level position, has also departed. — Sam Stevenson, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2026 The news comes after Cooper departed UTA in August, with CAA rumored as the likely next stop. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for departed

Recent Examples of Synonyms for departed

Adjective

That means that Olympus Mons, the extinct Martian volcano that at around 16 miles (26 kilometers) above the surrounding Martian plains is the largest mountain in the solar system, may in fact be a slumbering giant.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2026
The creature belonged to an extinct group of marine animals called belemnites, which were related to modern squid and octopuses.

— Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of extinct

Adjective

In Fallen Leaves Adult pests, larvae, and eggs can all hide out in old and fallen leaves that have dropped off deciduous plants, trees, and dead veggies.

— Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 6 Nov. 2026
Clean The Garden Don’t keep the garden too close to your house, and make sure to clean up any fallen or rotting vegetables and plants that have died back.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of fallen

Verb

Sweet followed the man into a nearby Shell gas station parking lot, exited his car and approached the suspect.

— Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 11 Nov. 2026
Especially since the big frame of the show’s director, Robert Falls, had just exited the theater, a flurry visible in the corner of my eye.

— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of exited

Adjective

The lenses, produced for the defunct camera maker Contax, were bought at steep discounts on eBay.

— IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Nov. 2026
Luna’s modeling work also includes appearances in Sports Illustrated and Liberty Belles, a now-defunct conservative pro-Second Amendment publication that featured women posing in camouflage bikinis with firearms in hand.

— Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of defunct

Adjective

The main players, now all deceased — including smuggler Jon Roberts, his associate/partner Toni Mooney and Colombian queenpin Griselda Blanco — appear as their younger selves.

— Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 2026
The Lost Screen Memorial features replicas of oversized smartphones with the photo of a deceased child on each home screen.

— ABC News, ABC News, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of deceased

Verb

West initially imagined his look through the imagery of the early papacy—particularly the period when the papal court moved from Rome to Avignon.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2026
Two years after their wedding, the pair moved from their Kansas hometown to Nashville so Martina could pursue a music career.

— Georgia Slater, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of moved

Verb

Though the government has yet to release a comprehensive list of people killed, thousands of public housing residents likely perished in the disaster.

— Avery Schmitz, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2026
Adding to the confusion, a young female pilot has since been reported to have perished in the crash.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of perished

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“Departed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/departed. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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