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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bereft
Dylan is confused but mostly bereft at the impending loss of his friend.
—
Erin Qualey, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025
Outside the office, his outie is a bereft widower who chose to sever his mind just to get some emotional relief.
—Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
Ultimately, the result is a film left bereft, like Israel and Palestine themselves, with no easy conclusions or closure.
—Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Jan. 2025
Trucks equipped with cannons and 50-caliber machine guns sit as bereft sentinels on street corners.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bereft
Erin Qualey, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025
Outside the office, his outie is a bereft widower who chose to sever his mind just to get some emotional relief.
—Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
Ultimately, the result is a film left bereft, like Israel and Palestine themselves, with no easy conclusions or closure.
—Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Jan. 2025
Trucks equipped with cannons and 50-caliber machine guns sit as bereft sentinels on street corners.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bereft
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bereft
Adjective
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Some neighborhoods are blessed; others remain bereaved.—
Connie Ogle,
Miami Herald,
8 Mar. 2025
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The poor fell ow was panting like a bereaved porpoise and holding both hands over his heart.—
Frank C. Hibben,
Outdoor Life,
13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Banking has become functionally correct but emotionally devoid, with the industry swimming in a sea of sameness.—
Michael Abbott,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
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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
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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Despite that success, Willard was unhappy with the program’s financial commitments.—
Taylor Lyons,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Mar. 2025
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The extra time will presumably be used to fix whatever about the season executives are unhappy with.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bereft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bereft. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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