Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective defunct contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of defunct are dead, deceased, departed, and late. While all these words mean "devoid of life," defunct stresses cessation of active existence or operation.

a defunct television series

When is dead a more appropriate choice than defunct?

The meanings of dead and defunct largely overlap; however, 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

How does the word deceased relate to other synonyms for defunct?

Deceased, departed, and late apply to persons who have died recently. Deceased is the preferred term in legal use.

the estate of the deceased

When might departed be a better fit than defunct?

The words departed and defunct are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, departed is used usually as a euphemism.

our departed sister

When would late be a good substitute for defunct?

While in some cases nearly identical to defunct, 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 defunct Previously, White Sox games were televised on the now defunct NBC SportsNet Chicago. Brad Adgate, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025 In Georgia she got involved with a legendary, now defunct community health food store, Life’s Essentials, and several schools that promoted racial pride, good health, and collaboration. Cynthia R. Greenlee, Bon Appétit, 28 Feb. 2025 According to the agency’s now defunct website, USAID has provided Ukraine with a total of $37.6 billion in humanitarian aid, development assistance and direct budget support since the full-scale war began. Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 17 Feb. 2025 Separately, there's good news for those who had crypto at the now defunct FTX crypto exchange. Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for defunct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defunct
Adjective
  • In 1954, Kritsky said, all of Brood XI went extinct.
    Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Overall, the extinct species showed far less diversity than the modern ones.
    Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Listen to this article A woman was found dead after a Waukegan house just after midnight Friday, the second blaze this month where firefighters were hampered by hoarding conditions inside the home.
    Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025
  • The French Connection star, 95, and his classical pianist wife, 65 — who opted to live a quiet life in New Mexico away from the spotlight — were found dead at their property in Santa Fe Summit on Wednesday, Feb. 26.
    Becca Longmire, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The officers eventually issue Holloway a citation for his expired registration, but not for running the stop sign.
    Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Because of the shrinking availability of less painful lethal injection drugs, some states have simply taken their chances with expired drugs, or even reverted to more brutal forms of execution.
    Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • One sister’s mother is deceased, the other lives in Savannah with little contact with her daughter.
    Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2025
  • If the bird is deceased, wear gloves to handle and bury them in your yard.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Defunct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defunct. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

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