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

And while Nike landed Norwegian and Manchester City striker Erling Haaland in 2023, the brand also lost Spain and Barcelona phenom Lamine Yamal, who departed for Adidas a year later. — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 18 Sep. 2026 After a pair of SEC Championships and a national title during his five-year tenure with the Tigers, Saban departed for the NFL, leaving many folks on the bayou feeling embittered and betrayed. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for departed

Recent Examples of Synonyms for departed

Adjective

The Tasmanian tiger, which went extinct almost a century ago, had a huge skull and a lethal snap — a rare combination for a carnivorous mammal.

— Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026
Other travel advisors agree that summer travel is not going extinct, but have indeed noticed shifts in terms of where—and when—people are going.

— Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of extinct

Adjective

The incident caused street closures for a second day as crews worked to remove the fallen rig, impacting local businesses in the area.

— Manuel Bojorquez, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026
Plus, Vallejo toasts all barrels with fallen oak gathered from the estate to ensure a 100% local identity.

— Mark Johanson, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of fallen

Verb

Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell, who exited his start last week with left groin tightness, threw a bullpen on Tuesday.

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
One of the bullets exited her head before reentering her left arm near the elbow, where it was recovered during the autopsy.

— Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of exited

Adjective

What’s now a polished lodge—two- and three-story wings along the shoreline, fishing boats named Eel Grass and Sea Wolf docked out front—was a defunct forestry homestead when the Nation bought it.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Sep. 2026
When the pandemic forced Lou Valente to close the doors at the now-defunct Southpaw Sushi, he was forced to pivot.

— Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of defunct

Adjective

According to a spokesperson with the county's Animal Enforcement Services, 28 pigeons, three goats, two chickens, and one duck were found deceased near Cottonwood Drive at Fargo Place along the South River Trail.

— CBS News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
Upon arrival, officers located an adult male who was deceased.

— Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of deceased

Verb

She’s haunted by her divorce from Donn, and her greatest fear is being alone, which is becoming more and more of a real possibility, especially since her family has largely moved away.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
Diane was a blender of hair and plaid, while Aurora moved solidly, pushing a wheelbarrow.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of moved

Verb

Pries’s suggestion, known as the inverse Galois problem, was inspired by the work of the 19th-century French mathematician Évariste Galois, who perished after he was wounded in a gun duel at age 20.

— Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 22 Sep. 2026
As a result, more people have now died of environmental illnesses that followed the September 11 attacks than perished during the collapse of the towers that day.

— Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of perished

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“Departed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/departed. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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