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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as in fallen

no longer living our dear departed friend

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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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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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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

Ally Sentnor traded in the Kansas City Current’s teal blue for Angel City’s rose gold, while Kennedy Fuller departed the Los Angeles club and moved up the coast to Bay FC. — Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 21 July 2026 Aufderheide and Quinn offer a penetrating analysis of the way Kartemquin Films departed from the Griersonian model of documentary filmmaking that predominated in much of the English-speaking world in the 1930s, ‘40s, and ‘50s, and even beyond. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for departed

Recent Examples of Synonyms for departed

Adjective

The species has remained unchanged since prehistoric times, finding ways to survive while other species became extinct, according to the San Diego Zoo.

— Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 16 July 2026
There are others still who believe that something like a dragon may have actually existed but went extinct, though there’s no real scientific evidence supporting that.

— Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 15 July 2026

Definition of extinct

Adjective

The robot successfully navigated university campuses, forest trails, grassy fields, rocky terrain, staircases, stepping stones, logs, gaps, and fallen branches.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 July 2026
The suit accuses the fallen celebrity’s people of failing to provide documents clearing two mortgages, which prevented a clean-title transfer.

— Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026

Definition of fallen

Verb

After Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin replaced both Roberson and Luckett in 2000, Franklin exited after a few months and the girl group became a trio — dropping their third album, Survivor the following year.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 23 July 2026
They were dealt another blow Tuesday evening when right-fielder Jac Caglianone exited with right-shoulder soreness before the sixth inning of a home game against the San Francisco Giants.

— Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026

Definition of exited

Adjective

For example, in 2022, the FCC implemented a new rule requiring operators to dispose of dead satellites within five years, aimed at ensuring defunct spacecraft would not remain spaceborne garbage for decades to come.

— Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
That was a goalless draw for the men’s team against Petrolul Ploiesti in August 1995 being followed by a 1-0 loss in Romania to exit the now defunct Cup Winners’ Cup at the qualifying stage.

— Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 21 July 2026

Definition of defunct

Adjective

The majority are retirees, but the Social Security Administration (SSA) also provides regular income to disabled workers, widowed spouses and children of deceased workers.

— Brian Sloan, CNBC, 21 July 2026
The face of deceased founder Maurice White looms in the background.

— DeAsia Paige, AJC.com, 20 July 2026

Definition of deceased

Verb

Salvador Perez hit a homer off Padres reliever Matt Waldron, a two-run shot that moved the Royals captain slightly closer to the club’s all-time record.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 19 July 2026
Trump then took the microphone and moved the conversation onto Balogun’s red card.

— Adam Crafton, New York Times, 18 July 2026

Definition of moved

Verb

Spain's deadliest wildfire was in 1979, when 21 people perished in Lloret de Mar, a coastal town about an hour north of Barcelona.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026
Spain’s deadliest wildfire was in 1979, when 21 people perished in Lloret de Mar, a coastal town about an hour north of Barcelona.

— Sergio Rodrigo, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026

Definition of perished

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“Departed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/departed. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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