PASSES AWAY Synonyms: 46 Similar and Opposite Words

passes away

verb

present tense third-person singular of pass away

as in dies

to stop living the old woman passed away quietly

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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 passes away This leaves the king with only one living son, Prince Yeongan, who quickly begins to show signs of mortal peril and also passes away mid-way through the series. — Kayti Burt, Time, 17 July 2026 Also, after your parent passes away, the account would legally be yours. — Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 15 May 2026 Most Social Security payments fund retirement and related benefits, providing monthly income to eligible workers and certain family members, as well as survivor benefits for families after a worker passes away. — Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026 After Nora and Agnes’ mother passes away, Gustav returns to Oslo (and the gorgeous family house that has played home to some of their biggest tragedies) and tries to reestablish himself in his family’s lives. — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 28 Oct. 2025 That's very different from a co-signer, who is equally responsible for any balance, even after the primary cardholder passes away. — Steve Hruby, Cincinnati Enquirer, 20 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for passes away

Verb

Cary then dies from a gunshot wound during a car case, and that swerve was not a part of the source material.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2026
The game feels far away, and the sounds float up to the cavernous space below the roof where the noise dies.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of dies

Verb

This park also falls along the Rio Grande and includes mountainous terrain with tall cliffs and a desert landscape.

— Ashley Killough, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
Balance is critical in helping older adults prevent falls — and it’s now considered a marker for longevity.

— Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of falls

Verb

In The Children, sister and brother Guinevere and Ennis grow up under the shadow of their mother, Edith Sharpe, whose Ninth City children’s book series transfixes the world until Edith perishes in a mysterious fire in Vermont.

— Hamilton Cain, Time, 7 July 2026
Every soldier Harry would have saved on a transport during the war perishes too.

— Margaret Heidenry, Vanity Fair, 24 Dec. 2025

Definition of perishes

Verb

The Premier League kicks off on the following weekend of August 21, while Germany’s Bundesliga starts on August 28.

— Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
The song, an ode to Sivan’s love and appreciation for women, especially transgender women, kicks off a new era for the singer following his 2023 album, Something to Give Each Other.

— Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of kicks off

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passes

passes away

passes (down)

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Style

“Passes away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passes%20away. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of passes away

verb

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