departed
9 synonyms and 3 antonyms for departed, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Having left a place; gone.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adjective
Having left a place; gone.
“The station felt quiet after the departed train took most of the crowd.”
2. adjective
Dead; no longer living (a gentler way of saying so).
“He often spoke fondly of his departed wife at family gatherings.”
Opposites
How to use departed
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
the dearly departed
pray for the departed
a departed friend
Used in obituaries and eulogies as a softer alternative to "dead."
Frequently asked questions
What does “departed” mean?
The word “departed” means having left a place; gone. In plain terms, someone who has left, or — used more delicately — someone who has died.
How do you pronounce “departed”?
“Departed” is pronounced dih-PAH-tihd (/dɪˈpɑɹtɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “departed” in a sentence?
Here is “departed” used in a sentence: “The departed guests left their room keys at the desk.”
What part of speech is “departed”?
Depending on how it is used, “departed” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “departed” a common word?
“Departed” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “departed” have?
“Departed” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having left a place; gone.
What is the difference between departed and deceased?
Departed and deceased are both gentle, indirect ways to describe someone who has died, but departed can also simply mean someone has left a place, while deceased refers only to death. Context determines which meaning of departed applies.
Why is departed used as a polite way to say someone has died?
Departed softens the directness of saying someone died by using imagery of leaving or moving on, which many people find gentler and more comforting, especially in obituaries and condolences.
Can departed be used as a noun?
Yes, 'the departed' can refer to a person, or people collectively, who have died, as in 'we remember the departed' during a memorial service.
