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

A Mexican national who fell 30 feet to his death during a raid in California.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026

Pyongyang has denied involvement in overseas hacking attacks and in the death of Kim’s half-brother.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026

Using linked medical records, the team tracked new cases of cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver-related death over a median period of 13 years.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 25, 2026

The state-run insurer that covers healthcare for workers, Comwel, blamed his death on overwork following an investigation.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

I made it to school without freezing to death.

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows

Several of them contained details of how the deaths unfolded.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026

That surpasses the total for 2025, a year that had already shattered records, with 2,289 cases and three deaths including two young children.

From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026

Coupang CEO Harold Rogers was summoned to parliament in December 2025 over the deaths of Jang and Oh, as well as to answer for a recent data breach at his firm, involving 37.5 million users.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

Since the early 20th century, sitting lawmakers’ deaths have often cleared the way for more women to become members of Congress.

From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2026

All were wealthy and at the peaks of their careers, but all also bore the scars of nineteenth-century life, their pasts full of wrecked rail cars, fevers, and the premature deaths of loved ones.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

death

Frequently Asked Questions

Example Sentences

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