bereft

Meanings

1. 1adjectivenot comparableformalliterary

   Completely lacking or deprived of something, especially something needed or valued.

   Grammar: Usually predicative and followed by of: bereft of hope; not normally used before a noun.

   Patterns

   • bereft of something
   • be left bereft of something

   After the storm, the village was bereft of power for days.

   He sounded bereft of ideas during the meeting.

2. 2adjectivenot comparableliterary

   Deeply sad or lonely because of a loss, especially death or separation.

   Grammar: Literary; for death specifically, bereaved is more common and neutral.

   Patterns

   • bereft at a loss
   • feel bereft after something

   She felt bereft after her closest friend moved abroad.

   The team seemed bereft after losing its longtime coach.

Common combinations

bereft of hope

The delayed travelers were not entirely bereft of hope.

bereft of ideas

When planning stalled, the committee felt bereft of ideas.

bereft of support

The proposal, bereft of support, was withdrawn.

feel bereft

He felt bereft when the neighborhood library closed.

Synonyms and how they differ

devoid

Devoid of means completely lacking, but is colder and more descriptive than emotional bereft.

deprived

Deprived can describe lacking necessities; bereft often adds a feeling of loss.

bereaved

Bereaved specifically refers to someone whose relative or close person has died.

Opposites

Word family

bereavement noun

The state or period of grief after a death.

bereave verb

To deprive by death or loss; formal.

Commonly confused: bereft or bereaved? bereft or bereavement?

Practice

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