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 The helicopter pilots tried to give the air traffic control tower a three-minute warning prior to their departure, as required, but the message couldn’t get through initially. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 27 Aug. 2026 The latest total comprised 673 arrivals and 833 departures, reflecting a sharp slowdown as operators adjust schedules around the storm. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026 Hoyos took over as interim manager in April after the unexpected departure of Javier Mascherano, who led the team to the 2025 MLS Cup title and resigned for personal reasons along with his entire coaching staff. — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026 The Defense Department has largely kept the media away from covering the war to verify that and other claims easily -- a departure from norms where the press has embedded with troops on the frontlines since the Civil War. — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 27 Aug. 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

Genetic deviations that impair the processing of alcohol turn out to be associated with lower rates of alcoholism.

— Shayla Love, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026
The price of call options betting on a one standard-deviation move – contracts with a roughly 16% chance of making money – are in the 70th percentile of the past year, according to Nations Indexes data.

— Oliver Renick, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of deviation

Noun

Russian parliamentary elections take place next month, and there has been speculation about a fresh mobilization despite a 2022 draft triggering protests and an exodus of young men.

— Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
What Massachusetts Teaches About Rich People Leaving The exodus theory got a real-world test.

— Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of exodus

Noun

Two hundred and fifty-nine passengers and crew, as well as 11 people on the ground, were killed when Pan Am flight 103, from London to New York, exploded over Lockerbie, southwest Scotland, on 21 December 1988.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 27 Aug. 2026
Airport malaria is a very rare form of the disease’s transmission and occurs when a mosquito survives a flight from a malaria-endemic country and transmits the disease at or near the airport.

— Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of flight

Noun

This month, her mother’s memory-care facility was in an evacuation zone, causing many sleepless nights.

— Anya Kamenetz, Curbed, 28 Aug. 2026
Military helicopter circled overhead, searching for survivors, assessing the disaster and mapping out possible rescue and evacuation routes.

— Shristi Kafle, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of evacuation

Noun

Edwards said no officers have been put on leave, but an review is conducted after every pursuit.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Aug. 2026
For larger plants, give them a thorough hose-down or shower, remove dead leaves and debris, and treat any visible pests before bringing them indoors.

— Rachel Gillett, Martha Stewart, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of leave

Noun

The succession of scandals sparked an open discussion in the country about her suitability to the role of Queen, with some experts even laying out possible options for her withdrawal from royal duties.

— Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
Other possible complications include liver disease, allergic reactions, low blood pressure, and, when abruptly discontinued, withdrawal symptoms.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of withdrawal

Browse Nearby Words

departs

departure

departures

See all Nearby Words

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“Departure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/departure. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of departure

noun

Example Sentences

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