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

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 next

as in extinct

no longer existing a few crumbling ruins are all that remain of that departed civilization

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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?

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

Altars are traditionally decorated with pictures of departed relatives, their favorite foods, drinks and remnants of their lives, such as favorite items or symbols of their profession. —

Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025 But with Harden, Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac taking the majority of the shots instead of the departed Paul George and a rehabilitating Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers score 45.9 percent of their points in the paint (fifth in NBA). —

Law Murray, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025

Verb

Phelps departed the top of the company after an acrimonious lawsuit and subsequent trial between the sanctioning body of NASCAR and two of its Cup Series teams — a 14-month process that revealed some pretty unflattering messages sent within NASCAR leadership. —

Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Apr. 2026 Evans, a 10-time 1,000-yard receiver and the franchise’s receiving, touchdowns and scoring leader, departed this winter after 11 years. —

Fred Goodall, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for departed

Recent Examples of Synonyms for departed

Adjective

Put another way, the physicist believes that in a little more than three decades, there is a 50 percent chance that our species will be extinct.

— Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 19 Apr. 2026
The northern white rhino is also extinct in the wild.

— Heather Abbott, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026

Definition of extinct

Browse Nearby Words

depart

departed

departing

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Departed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/departed. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of departed

adjective

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on departed

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

boondoggle

Popular in Grammar & Usage

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Are You Misusing These 10 Common Words?

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Popular in Wordplay

9 Other Words for Beautiful

Why do we park in the driveway and drive on the parkway?

Was 'nervous Nellie' a Real Person?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

Popular

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

9 Other Words for Beautiful

Why do we park in the driveway and drive on the parkway?

Games & Quizzes