bereavement

noun

Definition of bereavementnext
as in absence

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 bereavement The contract also stipulates longevity bonuses for staff with at least ten years of service, up to twelve weeks of paid parental leave, stronger health and safety protections, and more bereavement leave. — News Desk, Artforum, 5 Oct. 2026 Families may continue a pregnancy, deliver their baby, hold and comfort their child, create memories and receive bereavement support. — Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026 In other moves, pitcher Tarik Skubal was reinstated from the bereavement list. — ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026 More recently, British Columbia has started shifting from offering an emergency response to supporting long-term recovery, including establishing a long-term grief-and-bereavement working group. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bereavement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bereavement
  1. absence
  2. deprivation
  3. privation
  4. lack
Noun
  • Unexcused absences in three consecutive elections freeze tax IDs, block nonvoters from applying to state jobs, hinders loans from state banks, and delays the issuance of passports.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The Panthers spent a first-round draft pick on tackle Monroe Freeling this year, who started in Moton’s absence the first few games of 2026.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of absence
Noun
  • More research is needed to better understand the connection between creatine and cognition; but the supplement may be beneficial for brain health, particularly in older adults and for issues related to sleep deprivation.
    — Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Both were transferred to Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth and spent time in the neonatal intensive care unit, where they were diagnosed with brain injuries due to oxygen deprivation.
    — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of deprivation
Noun
  • The catastrophe was a reminder of not only the destructiveness of Israeli bombing, but also the depth of the continuing privation in Gaza today.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Though each of the Ghetto’s three areas (the Ghetto Nuovo, the Ghetto Vecchio, and the Ghetto Nuovissimo) retained its own, distinct character until remarkably late, it was always cramped, unsanitary, and marred by privation.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of privation
Noun
  • The demonstrations first erupted last month in a high school in Creteil, southeast of Paris, over a lack of staff.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Management is guiding to flat EBITDA margins for the year, as lower-margin acquisitions and a fading FX tailwind offset productivity gains, so don't be worried about a lack of profitability growth in coming quarters.
    — Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of lack

Browse Nearby Words

bereaved
bereavement
bereavements
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bereavement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bereavement. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of grotesque

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All