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

Trafford was relegated to a backup status and has also departed. — Michael Cox, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 While Benard continues to appear on General Hospital, Marcil departed the series in 2013. — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for departed

Recent Examples of Synonyms for departed

Adjective

The sounds of the terror bird (phorusrhacids) was based on a prototype, which was modeled on the larynx of an extinct terror bird species.

— Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
As the Danube waters shrank in Bulgaria, researchers were thrilled to find and recover a jawbone, tusks, a shoulder blade, ribs and other bone fragments belonging to an extinct woolly mammoth buried deep in the sand.

— CBS News, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of extinct

Adjective

Kneeling beside the fallen buck, Charles, an avid trophy bowhunter, ran his hands over the gigantic rack.

— Jeff Murray, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026
The rules ban all plants within a foot of the home and require the first five feet around homes to be free of combustible materials such as firewood, fallen leaves and branches, and mulch or wood chips.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of fallen

Verb

At the time of the sale to SNR in 2024, Grieco became the company’s chief executive officer, and Herning exited the business.

— Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026
Still, in an unusual moment after the game, Cruz exited the clubhouse with trainer Tim Lentych by his side, with Boone waiting for him.

— Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of exited

Verb

An 8-year-old has died after contracting a rare brain-eating amoeba believed to have been encountered while swimming in a lake near her home, her family and health officials said.

— Diego Mendoza, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Four-year-old Mohammed Taha died after an Israeli airstrike hit a house in central Gaza on Sunday, hospital authorities said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of died

Adjective

Researchers behind the study, the largest ever of deceased NFL players’ brains, said the true prevalence of brain disease at death was probably higher.

— Rick Maese, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2026
The rules for claiming a small stock dividend, for instance, may be different than claiming a large cash settlement or a deceased relative’s safety deposit box.

— Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of deceased

Verb

Lala moved south of the Big Island on Sunday as a Category 1 hurricane, damaging or destroying more than 100 homes and cutting off some communities, according to the governor.

— Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
When Airbnb moved an earlier cohort of hosts to the new structure last year, about 30% raised prices enough to fully offset the higher fee and another 30% partially offset it, according to an analysis by short-term rental data firm AirDNA.

— Mike Winters, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of moved

Verb

Officials did not immediately release the names of those who perished, but Lenore Bangura told ABC Toledo affiliate station WTVG that her mother, Mary Allen, was killed in the explosion.

— Ahmad Hemingway, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
Before the service began, a worshiper read aloud the names of some 200 parishioners who perished.

— Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of perished

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Style

“Departed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/departed. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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verb

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