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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fallen
no longer living
a defunct species that we know only through fossil remains
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defunct
Christopher Hoenig, a spokesperson for Jersey Central Power & Light, said that the power company de-energized high-voltage lines around the defunct Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Plant to protect the safety of firefighters in the area.
—
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
The shells are transported to a storage site in East Haven, a defunct quarry that’s high, dry and far enough from homes to avoid any odor issues.
—Jillian Freyer, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
The Washington Post: The odyssey of Abrego Garcia begins with a defunct registry.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 21 Apr. 2025
Homer’s Kitchen Table, the new name for what had been Homer’s West, opened in 2022 after moving from the Galleria Shopping Center, 9700 N. Rodney Parham Road in Little Rock, to part of the defunct Franke’s Cafeteria in the Market Place Shopping Center, 11121 N. Rodney Parham.
—Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defunct
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
The shells are transported to a storage site in East Haven, a defunct quarry that’s high, dry and far enough from homes to avoid any odor issues.
—Jillian Freyer, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
The Washington Post: The odyssey of Abrego Garcia begins with a defunct registry.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 21 Apr. 2025
Homer’s Kitchen Table, the new name for what had been Homer’s West, opened in 2022 after moving from the Galleria Shopping Center, 9700 N. Rodney Parham Road in Little Rock, to part of the defunct Franke’s Cafeteria in the Market Place Shopping Center, 11121 N. Rodney Parham.
—Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defunct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defunct
Adjective
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Five years ago, alula, a beautiful plant found only on coastal cliff habitats on Kauai and Niihau, Hawaii, was declared extinct in the wild.—
Megan Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2025
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An international team of researchers has found that these creatures would stalk and hunt in the Caribbean islands millions of years after similar predators went extinct on the South American mainland.—
Ashley Belanger – May 16,
ArsTechnica,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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The silver vehicle then hit the 84-year-old woman, who was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.—
Carolyn Stein,
Chicago Tribune,
25 May 2025
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He was pronounced dead at the scene by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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Ting’s Filipino Bistro 10 critical violations in an April 29 routine inspection 405 Main St. An inspector discovered a bottle of expired cocktail sauce sitting on top of the water heater at the River Market restaurant.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
11 May 2025
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Clean out the expired sunscreen first before attempting to recycle the container.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 May 2025
Adjective
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Attendees wore clothes honoring deceased children like Pamela Butler, Angel Hooper, and LeGend Taliferro, paying tribute and wiping tears away during the ceremony.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
17 May 2025
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In a Facebook update posted on May 13, the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office identified the three deceased victims as Vishnu Irigireddy, 48, of Renton; Tim Nguyen, 63, of Renton; and Oleksander Martynenko, 36, of Bellevue.—
Sam Gillette,
People.com,
16 May 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 31 May. 2025.
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