1
as in extinct
no longer existing
a stack of brochures and a few faded placards are all that remain of the defunct organization
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fallen
no longer living
a defunct species that we know only through fossil remains
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 defunct
Here's what to know about the strange signal, and how astronomers tracked it to a defunct NASA satellite.
—
Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 28 June 2025
Now, the researchers have discovered the blast didn’t come from a celestial object, but a defunct satellite orbiting Earth.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
On Wednesday, Anthropic announced a new feature that expands its Artifacts document management system into the basis of a personal AI app gallery resembling something from the Flash game era of the early 2000s—though these apps run on modern web code rather than Adobe's defunct plugin.
—ArsTechnica, 26 June 2025
And locals are not pleased about the defunct sand mine with a pending application to create a 50-lot commercial center.
—Stephanie Krikorian, Curbed, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for defunct
Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 28 June 2025
Now, the researchers have discovered the blast didn’t come from a celestial object, but a defunct satellite orbiting Earth.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
On Wednesday, Anthropic announced a new feature that expands its Artifacts document management system into the basis of a personal AI app gallery resembling something from the Flash game era of the early 2000s—though these apps run on modern web code rather than Adobe's defunct plugin.
—ArsTechnica, 26 June 2025
And locals are not pleased about the defunct sand mine with a pending application to create a 50-lot commercial center.
—Stephanie Krikorian, Curbed, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for defunct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defunct
Adjective
-
Someone else wanted to make a list of every species that had ever gone extinct.—
Clare Sestanovich,
New Yorker,
13 July 2025
-
Paleontologists have spent decades hotly debating why such magnificent beasts went extinct, the emerging picture involving a one-two punch of increasing human influence on the landscape and a warmer interglacial climate that began to change the world’s ecosystems.—
Riley Black,
Smithsonian Magazine,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
Jackson reportedly last checked in with dispatch on June 7 and was eventually found dead by rangers eight days later on June 15 in a camping tent on the Duck Hole trail, which is located in the Adirondack High Peaks, according to the Adirondack Explorer.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
People.com,
12 July 2025
-
Since the assassination attempt on Trump that left the 50-year-old father dead, the Comperatore family has grappled with lingering and unanswered questions about what led to Comperatore’s death that day.—
Audrey Conklin,
FOXNews.com,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
Skin irritation or rash from expired ingredients is also possible.—
Alex Vance,
Parents,
10 July 2025
-
This minimizes losses from expired or unsold products and lowers risk by maintaining tighter control over merchandise.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
Following the case of mistaken identity, the hunt for Decker continues, well over a month after his three girls were discovered deceased at 3:45 p.m. local time on June 2.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
15 July 2025
-
Chacon was transported by Johnson County Med-Act to a nearby hospital and was later pronounced deceased, police said.—
Laura Bauer
July 12,
Kansas City Star,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
So many firsts, gone, charred to ash, just remnants of an area that once represented Black prosperity and joy.—
Maya Richard-Craven,
Forbes,
13 Jan. 2025
-
The original pioneers were mostly busy making non-hyperpop or gone: SOPHIE tragically died in 2021; 100 gecs spent years toiling to make their zany stadium-rock second album.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
3 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Defunct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defunct. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share