1
as in extinct
no longer existing
a stack of brochures and a few faded placards are all that remain of the defunct organization
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2
as in fallen
no longer living
a defunct species that we know only through fossil remains
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Recent Examples of defunct
Authorities have attributed the attacks to dissident factions of the defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), led by Iván Mordisco.
—
Sonia Osorio, Miami Herald, 30 June 2025
Here's what to know about the strange signal, and how astronomers tracked it to a defunct NASA satellite.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 28 June 2025
Now, the researchers have discovered the blast didn’t come from a celestial object, but a defunct satellite orbiting Earth.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
On Wednesday, Anthropic announced a new feature that expands its Artifacts document management system into the basis of a personal AI app gallery resembling something from the Flash game era of the early 2000s—though these apps run on modern web code rather than Adobe's defunct plugin.
—ArsTechnica, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for defunct
Sonia Osorio, Miami Herald, 30 June 2025
Here's what to know about the strange signal, and how astronomers tracked it to a defunct NASA satellite.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 28 June 2025
Now, the researchers have discovered the blast didn’t come from a celestial object, but a defunct satellite orbiting Earth.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
On Wednesday, Anthropic announced a new feature that expands its Artifacts document management system into the basis of a personal AI app gallery resembling something from the Flash game era of the early 2000s—though these apps run on modern web code rather than Adobe's defunct plugin.
—ArsTechnica, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for defunct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defunct
Adjective
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But as a group, hominins—that’s Neanderthals, our species, and other extinct close relatives—aren’t specialized flesh eaters.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
28 July 2025
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But as a group, hominins – that’s Neanderthals, our species and other extinct close relatives – aren’t specialized flesh eaters.—
Melanie Beasley,
The Conversation,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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Within months, however, Carter’s financial backer Lord Carnarvon was dead from a mysterious illness.—
Justin Stebbing,
JSTOR Daily,
24 July 2025
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There has been a gradual normalization of ties between India and China in recent months after relations were deeply strained in June 2020, when a brutal hand-to-hand battle in the Galwan Valley left at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers dead.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
24 July 2025
Adjective
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But scrubbing the oven, tossing expired food from the fridge, and even running the dishwasher can be disruptive.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 June 2025
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Kroger overcharged customers on sale items due to expired labels, according to a joint investigation.—
Alex Perry,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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González’s son previously posted one of the now-circulating pictures on Instagram as a posthumous tribute to his deceased father.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
28 July 2025
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Another female was discovered deceased in the hallway bathroom and a further deceased female was found in a bedroom across the hall from the bathroom.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
28 July 2025
Adjective
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So many firsts, gone, charred to ash, just remnants of an area that once represented Black prosperity and joy.—
Maya Richard-Craven,
Forbes,
13 Jan. 2025
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The original pioneers were mostly busy making non-hyperpop or gone: SOPHIE tragically died in 2021; 100 gecs spent years toiling to make their zany stadium-rock second album.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
3 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Defunct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defunct. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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