deceased 1 of 3

adjective

di-ˈsēst How to pronounce deceased (audio)
Definition of deceasednext
as in dead
no longer living the recently deceased tenant was found by a concerned neighbor

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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
Where deceased airplane passengers go when their journey ends early. —Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026 She was taken outside of the home and attended to by paramedics but was declared deceased at the scene, officials said. —Harry Harris, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 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
First responders found the 61-year-old, who was not named in the release, deceased in a bedroom, according to the release. —Sarah Volpenhein, jsonline.com, 28 Dec. 2025 Firefighters extinguished the blaze and found a person deceased at the scene. —Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 19 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deceased
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deceased
  1. dead
  2. decedent
  3. died
  4. fallen
  5. corpse
  6. perished
  7. late
  8. fell
Adjective
  • Hunters and birdwatchers are advised to wear gloves when handling birds or feeders, to wash hands thoroughly after any contact, and to not eating birds that appear sick or birds that are found dead.
    — Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 15 Feb. 2026
  • The key is having at least one recipe in your culinary back pocket that’s so dead-simple, it can be made on autopilot using just a few simple ingredients that come together with minimal effort, cook time, or dirty dishes to deal with afterwards.
    — Elizabeth Brownfield, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of dead
Noun
  • The Sheriff's Office did not identify the decedents, but the deceased mom and son were identified by the county medical examiner.
    — Ben Brachfeld, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
  • The decedents ranged in age from 60 to 84 years old, according to a release from the coroner's office.
    — Helen Graham, NBC news, 26 Jan. 2026
Definition of decedent
Verb
  • As of now, it is known that two people died as a result of this attack.
    — Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 12 Feb. 2026
  • One person died Wednesday when a pickup truck crashed in an East County intersection.
    — City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Feb. 2026
Definition of died
Adjective
  • Steven McDonald, a fallen hero of the department who channeled the agony of three devastating gunshot wounds into an enduring message of peace and forgiveness.
    — Barry Williams, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
  • As the give-and-take between Goldsworthy and the farmers of Penpont has deepened, the latter have become accustomed to the sight of the artist gathering wood or stones or fallen trees.
    — Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of fallen
Noun
  • The corpse abuse revelations spurred changes to Colorado’s lax funeral home regulations.
    — Jesse Bedayn, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
  • The world outside Silo residents have little idea what's outside, because their video feed shows nothing but scrub, dead trees, and the corpses of deceased cleaners — everything else is obscured by the incline strategically placed around the entrance to the bunker.
    — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of corpse
Verb
  • As many as one-third of all Jewish victims of the Nazi genocide perished on Soviet territory.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Galen tried to slow the wave of illness, but most of the people in Aquileia perished.
    — Vann R. Newkirk II, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of perished
Adjective
  • Other witnesses include Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who agreed to give depositions in late February.
    — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
  • From late 2018 to the end of 2020, Coppermark filed approximately 300 complaints.
    — J.C. Hallman, Oklahoman, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of late
Verb
  • Cortina Mayor Gianluca Lorenzi received death threats after centuries-old trees were felled to make way for a $131 million bobsledding track.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Afterward, Agnes and I were felled by the kind of hunger that overtakes only those who have exerted themselves in cold weather.
    — Boris Fishman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of fell

Browse Nearby Words

decease
deceased
deceases
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Cite this Entry

“Deceased.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deceased. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on deceased

Nglish: Translation of deceased for Spanish Speakers

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