1
as in bereaved
suffering the death of a loved one
to one investigator, the bereft woman seemed to be taking the sudden death of her rich husband amazingly well
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in devoid
utterly lacking in something needed, wanted, or expected
a cheap motel completely bereft of all amenities
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of bereft
In the final moments of The Lincoln Lawyer season 2, a bereft Haller gets a lead on a new case and goes to see the body of the murder victim.
—
Erica Marrison, People.com, 17 Oct. 2024
In her 2012 documentary—filmed more than 40 years after his death—Ethel looked as bereft as ever when the subject of his assassination was brought up.
—Kathy Ehrich Dowd, TIME, 10 Oct. 2024
When Pat dies suddenly, a bereft Angie finds herself in a situation that puts her at odds with Shing’s family, whose handling of their grief begins to look a lot like callous discrimination.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024
What of parents left bereft and children left without parents?
—Dan Rodricks, Baltimore Sun, 13 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for bereft 
Erica Marrison, People.com, 17 Oct. 2024
In her 2012 documentary—filmed more than 40 years after his death—Ethel looked as bereft as ever when the subject of his assassination was brought up.
—Kathy Ehrich Dowd, TIME, 10 Oct. 2024
When Pat dies suddenly, a bereft Angie finds herself in a situation that puts her at odds with Shing’s family, whose handling of their grief begins to look a lot like callous discrimination.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024
What of parents left bereft and children left without parents?
—Dan Rodricks, Baltimore Sun, 13 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for bereft
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bereft
Adjective
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Trump visited Section 60 with Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican who is running for reelection in 2024, and bereaved family members who wanted Trump there, the Washington Post reported.—
George Petras,
The Courier-Journal,
30 Aug. 2024
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Her besties try to cheer up their bereaved friend by gifting her a red scarf.—
Emily St. Martin,
Orange County Register,
18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Delle, devoid for so long from its intrinsic need for social interaction might be filling in the gaps by talking to himself.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
14 Feb. 2023
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The medication has hallucinogenic effects that alter the perception of sight and sound and cause users to feel devoid from pain and out of control of their surroundings.—
Jay Stahl,
USA TODAY,
28 Oct. 2023
Adjective
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And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.—
David Mamet,
National Review,
11 Aug. 2022
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The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Adjective
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Ratings declined, Lynch was unhappy, and the show was canceled.—
Victoria Edel,
People.com,
16 Jan. 2025
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Saquon Barkley is an unstoppable force, the defense is resurgent under Vic Fangio, the chatter about an unhappy A.J. Brown has mostly died down.—
Dianna Russini,
The Athletic,
16 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near bereft
Cite this Entry
“Bereft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bereft. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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