bereft

What does “bereft” mean?

adjective.deprived of or lacking something.

SAT Usage

This term is commonly found in passages discussing loss, grief, or emotional states, often emphasizing a profound sense of emptiness or longing. It conveys a deeper emotional deprivation than simply being without something, highlighting the impact of that absence on a person's well-being, and it differs from "deprived," which may not carry the same emotional weight.

Common Confusions

Bereft implies a deep emotional emptiness due to loss, while deprived usually suggests a more neutral state of lacking something without the same emotional weight.

Example Sentences

• She felt utterly bereft after her mentor left the university.

• After losing her grandmother, she felt bereft of the love and guidance that had shaped her into the person she was.