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 next

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

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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

Pushed by an exacting director to pour her grief into the performance, she is simultaneously visited by the ghost of her deceased partner, who carries an impending climate prophecy. —

Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 May 2026 The Olathe Public Schools Board of Education defended its decision not to update its policy for honoring deceased students at graduation ceremonies in a statement this week. —

Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 12 May 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

Crews began fighting the fire and then found three children, an adult and a dog deceased in the home, the fire department said in a statement. —

Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 22 Mar. 2026 Prosecutors said both defendants routinely prepared death certificates for the deceased and filed them with the State of Colorado's Electronic Death Registry. —

Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deceased

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deceased

Adjective

Thinking him either dead or, worse, suicidal, she’d screamed, which inopportunely woke him up.

— Weike Wang, New Yorker, 17 May 2026
Two pedestrians — Jason Negron, 46, and Michael Saint-Hilaire, 35, both of Manhattan — were pronounced dead at the hospital, police said.

— Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026

Definition of dead

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decease

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“Deceased.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deceased. Accessed 22 May. 2026.

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Synonyms of deceased

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