Synonyms of bereaved

bereaved 1 of 2

adjective

bi-ˈrēvd 

as in grieving

suffering the death of a loved one

the grief of the bereaved parents seemed to be without limit

Synonyms & Similar Words

• grieving
• bereft
• widowed
• mourning
• weeping
• unhappy
• distressed
• sorrowing
• suffering
• sad
• crying
• orphaned
• mournful
• upset
• melancholy
• wailing
• miserable
• lamenting
• bemoaning

bereaved

2 of 2

verb

variants or bereft

past tense of bereave

as in deprived

to take something away from

news of a death in the family bereaved them of the unmitigated joy that normally prevails at a wedding

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deprived
• stripped
• divested
• denuded
• defrauded
• cleaned (out)
• abated
• impoverished
• shortchanged
• cheated
• bankrupted
• disfurnished

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bereaved

Adjective

Organizers ultimately let the 10-year-old boy, her godson, join her, but the 12-year-old boy, who was the son of a bereaved friend, had to sit elsewhere. — Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026

Challenges for caregivers and schools A single death can force a bereaved family to navigate multiple intersecting losses. — Keisha M. Wint, The Conversation, 23 June 2026

Verb

Minutes after jurors delivered a multimillion-dollar verdict at the landmark social media addiction trial in Los Angeles last week, bereaved parents and supporters celebrating the victory over Big Tech faced tough questions about what comes next. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2026

Things culminate in a fatal accident in Florida, where the bereaved hold Tesla accountable via a lawsuit. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026