DECEASED Synonyms: 101 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'deceased' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of deceased are dead , defunct , departed , and late . While all these words mean "devoid of life," 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: Where would 'dead' be a reasonable alternative to 'deceased'?

While in some cases nearly identical to deceased , 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: When is 'defunct' a more appropriate choice than 'deceased'?

The meanings of defunct and deceased largely overlap; however, defunct stresses cessation of active existence or operation. // a defunct television series

Q: When could 'departed' be used to replace 'deceased'?

The words departed and deceased can be used in similar contexts, but departed is used usually as a euphemism. // our departed sister

Q: When is it sensible to use 'late' instead of 'deceased'?

Although the words late and deceased have much in common, late is used especially with reference to a person in a specific relation or status. // the company's late president

deceased 1 of 3

adjective

di-ˈsēst

Definition of deceased

as in dead

no longer living the recently deceased tenant was found by a concerned neighbor

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

deceased

2 of 3

noun

as in decedent

Related Words

deceased

3 of 3

verb

past tense of decease

as in died

to stop living no one knows what happened to the family fortune after the spinster deceased

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the adjective deceased contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of deceased are dead, defunct, departed, and late. While all these words mean "devoid of life," deceased, departed, and late apply to persons who have died recently. deceased is the preferred term in legal use.

the estate of the deceased

Where would dead be a reasonable alternative to deceased?

While in some cases nearly identical to deceased, 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

When is defunct a more appropriate choice than deceased?

The meanings of defunct and deceased largely overlap; however, defunct stresses cessation of active existence or operation.

a defunct television series

When could departed be used to replace deceased?

The words departed and deceased can be used in similar contexts, but departed is used usually as a euphemism.

our departed sister

When is it sensible to use late instead of deceased?

Although the words late and deceased have much in common, 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 deceased

Adjective

Officers began lifesaving aid until EMS arrived to take the victim to a hospital, where he was later declared deceased, police shared. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 30 Aug. 2026 The three deceased teenagers have since been identified as Haruki Shitaebisu, 17, his younger brother Kensei, 13, and Takahiro Takemoto, 14, per Kagoshima Yomiuri Television. — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026

Noun

GEDMatch is one of the databases used by the DNA Doe project, a non-profit that works to name the deceased who remain unidentified. — Crimesider Staff, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2018

Verb

Officers met with fire crews who recovered the body from the water and declared the person deceased on scene. — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026 Sugar confronts her at a ceremonial funeral for the unknown deceased, a fittingly dramatic setting for our guy to have the final word as FBI agents roll up on the assemblywoman. — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deceased

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deceased

Adjective

Current policy allows airport facilities to be named only for people who have been dead at least two years and who made significant contributions to the airport authority or aviation in Middle Tennessee.

— Hadley Hitson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
To that end, Chris Diamantopoulos looks like an inspired bit of casting as Mitch McNamara, a government agent who swoops in to examine eight dead Jasons and a ninth the police are holding in an interrogation room.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of dead

Noun

At the South Chicago Chapel, none of the remains from South Chicago Chapel had tags listing the decedents' full name and date of birth or other unique identifiers, though some had funeral home or hospital tags.

— Casey Toner, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026
The medical examiner's office is assessing the conditions of the remains and searching for documentation to identify the decedents, including their death certificates, Cook County said.

— Luke Barr, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of decedent

Verb

Jimerson and Brown, who died in 2020, were two of four people convicted of taking part in the murder and rape of 78-year-old Myrtle Holmes of Fordyce.

— Brett Barrouquere, Arkansas Online, 30 Aug. 2026
In the village of Bilbasovka in eastern Ukraine, a 13-year-old child and an adult died after Russian troops dropped bombs on private houses Sunday, according to local official Vadim Lyakh.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of died

Verb

Four women and an infant are among the victims who perished, the organization confirmed to The Independent.

— Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
More than 1,100 people perished when a huge glacier and rock landslide high in the Himalayas triggered fast-moving floodwaters that struck Nepal and China on the morning of August 26.

— Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of perished

Adjective

Many questions are set to be answered on Tuesday, and The Athletic will bring you all the latest through our dedicated live coverage.

— Leon Imber, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
At this late juncture in the season, the instability of the Akira One’s revolving-door crew is taking its toll.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of late

Verb

Rincker, a German immigrant, was known for casting the bell that hung from the first Cook County Courthouse, which was felled by the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

— Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Frightened that she may be plagued by the same mental illness that felled her mom, Gemma stubbornly refuses to believe anything is wrong.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of fell

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“Deceased.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deceased. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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