DEFUNCT Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

defunct

adjective

di-ˈfəŋkt

Definition of defunct next

as in extinct

no longer existing a stack of brochures and a few faded placards are all that remain of the defunct organization

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in fallen

no longer living a defunct species that we know only through fossil remains

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 The automotive history books are thick with defunct models that tried to be too many things to too many people and wound up being the wrong thing for most. —

Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 16 Jan. 2025 The Warren family bought the defunct plantation and its triple-gable Jacobean mansion in 2006 and uses sugarcane syrup from stalks grown on the property to make its award-winning rums, aged in bourbon casks from Kentucky. —

Patrick Scott, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025 The latter blew up a defunct weather satellite in 2007, drawing international criticism. —

Colin Demarest, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025 This can be supplemented by direct investment in glossy, original short form content, dusting off the playbook from the now defunct Quibi. —

Paul Pastor, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for defunct

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defunct

Adjective

Panda haters often argue that the billions of dollars that are spent to prevent them from going extinct would be better allocated to saving more adaptable species.

— Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2025
Colossal aims to revive the woolly mammoth species, which mainly went extinct 10,000 years ago (though some populations remained until 4,000 years ago), by creating a woolly mammoth calf that an elephant mother will then give birth to.

— Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 15 Jan. 2025