DEPARTURE Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

departure

noun

di-ˈpär-chər

Definition of departure

as in departing

the act of leaving a place his sudden departure left them wondering if they'd upset him

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in deviation

a turning away from a course or standard any departure from the modernist orthodoxy was scorned by the city's cultural elite

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

adherence

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 departure Ferrari further modified the emblem by turning the horse’s tail upward to symbolize luck and victory—a notable departure from the downward-pointing tail of Baracca’s prancing stallion. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 July 2026 For those seeking a full departure from tradition, consider sporting both rings on the same hand but on different fingers. — Boutayna Chokrane, Vogue, 17 July 2026 Spain edged Portugal 1-0 on July 6, as Mikel Merino’s 90th-minute goal ended Cristiano Ronaldo’s international career, with Portugal manager Roberto Martinez also announcing his departure after the match. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 July 2026 The move accelerated in recent days following Youri Tielemans’ departure to Manchester United. — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for departure

Recent Examples of Synonyms for departure

Noun

Sunday is expected to be the busiest day at O'Hare Airport, with more than 300,000 passengers arriving or departing.

— Lauren Victory, CBS News, 1 July 2026
While Schmid fills the role of a high-end backup, Florida still needs to acquire a starting-caliber goaltender prior to the start of the season with both Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov departing.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026

Definition of departing

Noun

In this model, the deterministic layer executes those rules without deviation.

— Binny Gill, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
For all the culture-war debates about the liberties Nolan took in his casting, his most radical deviation from the text has to do with agency and who has it.

— Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026

Definition of deviation

Noun

People fled the country, in an exodus that would eventually involve a fifth of the population.

— Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
Her reorientation of the division led to a mass exodus of career staff — nearly three-quarters of the roughly 400 attorneys who were there at the beginning of 2025, by Dhillon’s telling.

— Ben Wieder, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026

Definition of exodus

Noun

Chances are you’re here on a broader Sonoma County trip, and if so, wine country is the obvious detour, with Healdsburg about 45 minutes north.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026
Sweeney said the city would notify residents and businesses before work begins, and LADOT will provide traffic control and detour assistance during construction.

— Hanna Kang, Los Angeles Times, 17 July 2026

Definition of detour

Noun

This test flight—the 13th full-scale Starship launch—is the second to use the Raptor 3 engine flying on SpaceX’s upgraded Starship Version 3 rocket.

— Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 17 July 2026
Suspect first interviewed on day of killing Brown, whose wife was away on an international flight, spoke to two detectives at that time.

— Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026

Definition of flight

Noun

The fire began Saturday and quickly grew, reaching more than 4,000 acres by the end of the day and prompting evacuation orders.

— Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026
The arrival of the modular barges dramatically increased evacuation capacity, allowing rescuers to move hundreds of people during each trip.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 16 July 2026

Definition of evacuation

Noun

Even though Yates told staff of her drug use history, staff placed her in a cell where she would not be monitored for withdrawals or overdoses, the suit alleged.

— Theresa Clift July 17, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026
The withdrawal is concerning for Oseman, who has faced increasing censorship efforts around her comic since the show’s release.

— Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2026

Definition of withdrawal

Browse Nearby Words

departs

departure

departures

See all Nearby Words

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Style

“Departure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/departure. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of departure

noun

Example Sentences

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