death

[deth] / dɛθ /

NOUN

end of life

Synonyms

STRONGEST

decease demise dying expiration loss of life passing

STRONG

cessation curtains end euthanasia extermination extinction finis finish necrosis oblivion quietus release repose termination

WEAK

afterlife dissolution eternal rest eternal sleep final rest final sleep grave grim reaper heaven mort mortality paradise passing over silence tomb

Antonyms

STRONGEST

beginning birth nativity

STRONG

creation existence genesis life origination start

WEAK

being

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for death?

In its most common and literal senses, death refers to the end of life—the state of no longer being alive; to the process of dying (a prolonged death); or to the instance of a person dying (His death was tragic). A somewhat formal (and blunt) synonym is demise. The word expiration is sometimes used, but usually sounds a bit literary or old-fashioned. The word end is sometimes used similarly, as in He finally met his end. The word decease can be used as a noun meaning the same thing as death, but its adjective form deceased (meaning dead) is much more common. Words for death used in formal, official contexts include fatality and casualty. In the context of crime, different types of death (and their causes) are given specific classifications, such as homicide and murder. In terms like death and destruction, death refers to wide-scale loss of life. In a broader scientific context, the death of an entire species is called extinction. In contrast with those who view death as the start of the afterlife (sometimes called the other side), some people view death as nonexistence or annihilation. Or, more dramatically, oblivion. Death is sometimes used as the name for the personification of death, also called the Grim Reaper (or just the Reaper), Pale Death, or the Angel of Death. The state of being subject to death is called mortality. Death is also sometimes used figuratively to mean the end of something, as in The failure of the bill was seen as the death of tax reform. And speaking of taxes, they are said to be the only thing as certain as death. For euphemisms and slang terms for death, see the next section.

What are some euphemisms for death?

Like other sensitive topics, there are many euphemisms for death (indirect, gentler, and less blunt ways of referring to it). Perhaps the most common euphemistic way of talking about a person’s death is to refer to it as their passing. Relatedly, pass, pass away, and pass on are all euphemisms for die. Taken literally, these terms can suggest that a person has passed over to the afterlife. In the context of mourning someone’s death, it’s often referred to as a loss. Many euphemisms for death liken it to sleep, including final repose, final rest, eternal rest, and eternal sleep. There are also many, many slang terms used in the context of death. Many are metaphorical and whimsical, such as the end of the line or the great gig in the sky. In a similarly irreverent tone, dying is sometimes called kicking the bucket (which is the basis of the term bucket list), biting the dust, buying the farm, or cashing in one’s chips, among other things. Religiously oriented expressions include go to glory, go to one’s reward, and meet one’s maker, which suggests an afterlife like those envisioned in many religions, in which a person’s death is followed by judgment by a deity. A more earthly way of referring to death is with the term the grave, as in It drove him to the grave, or with phrases that use the word grave, as in an early grave.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

death deaths

There are pictures of the disturbances following the 2015 death of Freddie Gray and a gallery set up as a room in a black home with pictures on the wall and a running television program.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2026

"An autopsy will be conducted to assist in determining the exact cause of death."

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026

She says she has faced a coordinated smear campaign against her, which has at times invoked her son's death and accusations that she is betraying his memory.

From Barron's ● Oct. 24, 2026

Nathan Hochman said last month he will not pursue the death penalty in the Reiner case.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026

Its operators, Maggie, Kate, and Leah, worked to conquer the longest distance, that between life and death.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

The trial also tracked whether patients’ cancer spread to other organs, such as the lungs or brain, which is the main driver of melanoma deaths.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2026

Children account for about one-third of deaths and more than one-quarter of infections in the current crisis -- more than 2,000 cases, according to UNICEF.

From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026

Immunotherapies such as Keytruda and Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Opdivo have substantially reduced the number of deaths attributed to melanoma since being approved over a decade ago.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

Only two human deaths have ever been confirmed by biologists.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026

In 2010, 8.8 million people fell ill with TB, with 1.4 million deaths.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

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