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

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

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

The defendant and others are said to have used a yacht that departed from the German port of Rostock. — Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026 The engagements in Nottingham come more than six years after the couple departed the United Kingdom for the United States and the years since have seen a public falling out with some members of the royal family. — Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for departed

Recent Examples of Synonyms for departed

Adjective

Lower and mid-tier bowl games might become extinct, although the six prominent bowls on and around New Year’s Day — Rose, Fiesta, Sugar, Orange, Cotton and Peach — should continue to host the CFP quarterfinals and semifinals.

— Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
The predators were locally extinct in California and the West, surviving mostly in rural Minnesota with another 40 animals in Michigan.

— Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of extinct

Verb

Incoom exited the Eagles in the first half and didn’t return, and as a result the Panthers needed to do a whole bunch of roster magic to fill his role on special teams.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026
Once the vehicle was parked, Pickens allegedly exited the car, walked to the driver’s side and opened the door.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of exited

Verb

In the town of Chhatak, also in the Sylhet region, the daughter of 30-year-old carpenter Humayun Rashid died unvaccinated in June aged nine months.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
Four people died and dozens more were injured after a fire broke out at a Canadian military base in Alberta on Saturday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Sunday afternoon.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of died

Adjective

The 307-mile Great Redwood Trail planned along a defunct Northern California rail line is colliding with the Wailaki tribe, as members decry hikers trampling ancestral villages and graves.

— Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Balaban & Katz also founded Chicago's first commercial television station, the long-defunct WBKB-TV Channel 4.

— Adam Harrington, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of defunct

Adjective

Two handguns were found at the scene, according to police, who have yet to release the identities of the five deceased individuals.

— Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2026
The truck driver was not injured and remained on scene, while the rider was transported to Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital and pronounced deceased.

— Felix Rodriguez, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of deceased

Verb

Eons ago a star up to 30 times the mass of our sun collapsed and perished, forming a black hole.

— Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
In some ski communities, such as Winter Park, entire mountainsides of trees perished, dramatically altering the landscape.

— Jennifer Oldham, Denver Post, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of perished

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 23 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of departed

adjective

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

asunder

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 23

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes