Synonyms for be-reave
verb be deprived of; mislay- drop
- fail
- forget
- give up
- squander
- suffer
- surrender
- waste
- bereave
- capitulate
- consume
- default
- deplete
- disinherit
- displace
- dispossess
- dissipate
- divest
- drain
- exhaust
- expend
- forfeit
- lavish
- misplace
- miss
- misspend
- oust
- relinquish
- rob
- sacrifice
- yield
- be careless
- be impoverished
- be reduced
- become poorer
- fail to keep
- fall short
- pass up
- suffer loss
- use up
Antonyms for be-reave
- fight
- hoard
- save
- win
- accumulate
- collect
- fill
- gather
- give
- hold
- keep
- refuse
- starve
- take
- achieve
- confront
- face
- hold on to
- maintain
- meet
- succeed
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the
Philip Lief Group.
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the
Philip Lief Group.
Word Origin & History
Old English bereafian "to deprive of, take away, seize, rob," from be + reafian "rob, plunder," from Proto-Germanic *raubojanan, from PIE *reup- "to snatch" (see rapid). A common Germanic formation (cf. Old Frisian birava "despoil," Old Saxon biroban, Dutch berooven, Old High German biroubon, German berauben, Gothic biraubon). Since mid-17c., mostly in reference to life, hope, loved ones, and other immaterial possessions. Past tense forms bereaved and bereft have co-existed since 14c., now slightly differentiated in meaning, the former applied to loss of loved ones, the latter to circumstances.