bereaved
Bereaved is an adjective describing people in deep sorrow at the loss of a loved one. For some, being bereaved helps them leave the sadness or release themselves from it by experiencing it for awhile.
From the Old English berēafian, meaning "deprive of," bereaved describes the loss you feel when someone you love dies. You are suddenly deprived of the person's presence, and missing and mourning leads to being bereaved. Losing a pet causes similar feelings, and you can be bereaved when a person goes away but is still alive. Loss and separation even in life are still reason to be bereaved over the absence. If someone leaves and you miss them deeply, you may be bereaved.
-
sorrowful through loss or deprivation
-
a person who has suffered the death of someone they loved“the bereaved do not always need to be taken care of”synonyms: bereaved person
- MLA
- APA
- Chicago
Vocabulary lists containing bereaved
This memoir recounts Noah's childhood in South Africa during the last years of apartheid.
Vocabulary from "Beowulf" (translated by by Gummere).
Whether you're describing a feeling of deep grief or undeserved rejection, there are many words to express the different kinds of sadness that people experience. For more synonym lists, explore our Say What You Mean resources.