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

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

deceased

3 of 3

noun

as in decedent

Related Words

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
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
The plan was for the remains and DNA of more than 70 deceased people to be included on a lunar lander bound for the moon. —Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 27 June 2025 Israel has negotiated the return of 148 hostages so far, though eight of those hostages were deceased. —Mackenzie Thomas, The Washington Examiner, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for deceased
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deceased
  1. dead
  2. died
  3. decedent
  4. perished
  5. corpse
  6. late
  7. fell
  8. departed
Adjective
  • Since the assassination attempt on Trump that left the 50-year-old father dead, the Comperatore family has grappled with lingering and unanswered questions about what led to Comperatore’s death that day.
    — Audrey Conklin, FOXNews.com, 12 July 2025
  • Jackson reportedly last checked in with dispatch on June 7 and was eventually found dead by rangers eight days later on June 15 in a camping tent on the Duck Hole trail, which is located in the Adirondack High Peaks, according to the Adirondack Explorer.
    — Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 12 July 2025
Definition of dead
Verb
  • An American Airlines employee has died following an accident on the tarmac in North Carolina.
    — Angel Saunders, People.com, 28 Jan. 2025
  • An American Airlines worker died after they were struck by a ramp vehicle on the tarmac at an airport on Monday morning.
    — Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
Definition of died
Noun
  • Thus, in the case of a decedent, the estate is held liable for the debt.
    — Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • Instead, the coroner’s office cremates the decedent.
    — Calista Oetama, Sacbee.com, 24 June 2025
Definition of decedent
Verb
  • Cline never released a duet or other collaboration, and the new album features nine, including one with Cowboy Copas, who perished in the plane crash with Cline (along with fellow Opry star Hawkshaw Hawkins and Cline’s manager, Randy Hughes).
    — Nancy Kruh, People.com, 12 Apr. 2025
  • More than 1,500 passengers and crew perished; only around 710 of those on board survived.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of perished
Noun
  • Mohn was arrested hours after the killing and charged with first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse and possession of an instrument of crime.
    — Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 10 July 2025
  • Prosecutors, however, painted a different picture of the defendant, who’s been charged with first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse and other offenses for the January 2024 killing of 68-year-old Michael F. Mohn in the family’s Levittown home.
    — Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 8 July 2025
Definition of corpse
Adjective
  • Plan for planting once the weather cools in late October.
    — Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 July 2025
  • There are certainly fluctuations of good and bad news all across the gaming industry, but more often than not as of late, the Xbox brand seems to be squandering its goodwill by saying one thing and then doing another over and over again.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
Definition of late
Verb
  • Homes and green spaces have been swallowed up by the HS2 building work, and trees — some of them hundreds of years old — have been felled.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 8 July 2025
  • Winds felled two large pine trees in her neighbors’ yards.
    — Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Definition of fell
Adjective
  • The area, which also includes the Mann Chinese Theater with its famous footprints of departed stars, also has the classic El Capitan theater, owned by Disney.
    — Michael Goldstein, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
  • But with Harden, Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac taking the majority of the shots instead of the departed Paul George and a rehabilitating Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers score 45.9 percent of their points in the paint (fifth in NBA).
    — Law Murray, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
Definition of departed

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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 18 Jul. 2025.

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