If you look over there, you can see a defunct water tower.
Source: tatoeba (5275329)
Defunct
/ˌdiˈfʌŋkt/
Synonyms for "defunct" (139 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (28)
Strong matches (42)
Related words (69)
has beenhas-beeninactiveinanimateinapplicableinertinoperativeinvalidirrecoverablekaputkaputtlapsedlatelate lamentedlaunched into eternitylifelesslostmartyredno moreobsolete
Show 41 more words
outoutmodedoverpassepassedpassed awaypassed onpastperfectedperishedpushing up daisiesreleasedreposingresting easyrun outsaintedset at restsettledshotsleepingsmitten with deathsolspiritlessstillstillborntaken awaytaken offterminatedthroughthrough withunusableunusedvanishedwashed upwiped outwith the lordwith the saintswithout lifewithout vital functionswound upzapped
Adjective(8 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: abolished, ago, all bets off, all gone, all off.
- Sentence evidence is available for defunct, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from opengloss, moby, derived_reverse.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "defunct".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "defunct"
Keep "defunct" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "defunct" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "defunct", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "defunct" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
4 entrieslegal termpolicy termstate of beingstatus term
More specific
6 entriesabolished ordinancedecommissioned facilitydiscontinued productexpired lawrepealed regulationshuttered plant
Collocations
6 entriesdefunct companydefunct industrydefunct organizationdefunct programdefunct regimedefunct technology
Inflections
2 entriesmore defunctmost defunct
Derivations
1 entriessimilar
2 entriesTranslations
16 translations across 8 languages.
Dutch
2 entries- buiten gebruik adj (no longer in use)
- buiten werking adj (no longer in use)
German
4 entries- erloschen adj (no longer in use)
- gelöscht adj (no longer in use)
- nicht mehr existierend adj (no longer in use)
- tot adj (no longer in use)
Hungarian
1 entries- megszűnt adj (no longer in use)
Māori
1 entries- tūnguru adj (no longer in use)
Norwegian
2 entries- lagt ned adj (no longer in use)
- nedlagt adj (no longer in use)
Portuguese
1 entries- inativo adj (no longer in use)
Russian
1 entries- неде́йствующий adj (no longer in use)
Turkish
4 entries- feshedilmiş adj (no longer in use)
- geçersiz adj (no longer in use)
- kullanılmayan adj (no longer in use)
- ölü adj (no longer in use)
Sample sentences
12 total sentences available.
The project is now defunct.
Source: tatoeba (10319792)
Tom lives down the road from a defunct granary.
Source: tatoeba (10352316)
The campground was defunct.
Source: tatoeba (11227786)
Showing 4 of 12 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "defunct"?
Closest matches include abolished, ago, all bets off, all gone, all off.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "defunct"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.