Funeral — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈfyü-nə-rəl/ fu·ner·al

Meaning & Definition of Funeral

Funeral (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, or constituting a funeral
  2. funereal

Funeral (noun)

  1. the observances held for a dead person usually before burial or cremation
  2. a funeral sermon
  3. a funeral procession

Funeral (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in embalmment

    similar: embalmment, burial, burying, entombing, entombment, inhumation, interment, interring, obsequy, sepulture, immurement, inurnment, reburial, reinterment
    opposite: disinterment, exhumation, unearthing, cremation

Funeral (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. expressing or suggesting mourning

    "a slow and heavy funeral song"

    similar: aching, agonized, anguished, bemoaning, bewailing, bitter, deploring, doleful, dolesome, dolorous, grieving, heartbroken, lamentable, lugubrious, mournful, plaintive, plangent, regretful, rueful, sorrowful, sorry, wailing, weeping, woeful
    related: dirgelike, elegiac, melancholy, dejected, depressed, despondent, disconsolate, dispirited, downcast, downhearted, heartsick, heartsore, inconsolable, tearful, brokenhearted, careworn, crestfallen, forlorn, gloomy, glum, low-spirited, miserable, sad, triste, unhappy, woebegone, bawling, crying, groaning, howling, keening, moaning, yammering, bleeding, suffering, black, bleak, cheerless, comfortless, dark, darkening, desolate, dismal, dreary, funereal, gray, joyless, low, moody, morbid, morose, pathetic, pessimistic, piteous, saturnine, somber, sullen, wretched
    near: delighted, exulting, glorying, happy, joyful, rejoicing, triumphant, bright, cheerful, cheering, cheery, laughing, smiling, blissful, blithe, blithesome, buoyant, jocund, jolly, joyous, lighthearted, merry, mirthful, encouraging, hopeful, optimistic, ecstatic, elated, euphoric, exhilarated, giddy, heady, rapturous, rhapsodic

Related Entry: Funeral director (noun)

Funeral director is a different word from Funeral. The synonyms below are for funeral director, not for funeral.

  1. a person who manages funerals and prepares the dead for burial or cremation

    "the funeral director instructed the pallbearers on how to proceed"

    similar: mortician, undertaker
    related: embalmer

Related Entry: Funeral directors (noun)

Funeral directors is a different word from Funeral. The synonyms below are for funeral directors, not for funeral.

  1. a person who manages funerals and prepares the dead for burial or cremation

    "the funeral director instructed the pallbearers on how to proceed"

    similar: morticians, undertakers
    related: embalmers

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Funeral

The most common words with a similar meaning to Funeral:

embalmment, burial, burying, entombing, entombment, inhumation, interment, interring, obsequy, sepulture, immurement, inurnment, reburial, reinterment, aching, agonized, anguished, bemoaning, bewailing, bitter, deploring, doleful, dolesome, dolorous, grieving, heartbroken, lamentable, lugubrious, mournful, plaintive, plangent, regretful, rueful, sorrowful, sorry, wailing, weeping, woeful

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Funeral

Words with the opposite meaning of Funeral:

disinterment, exhumation, unearthing, cremation

Related Words for Funeral

dirgelike, elegiac, melancholy, dejected, depressed, despondent, disconsolate, dispirited, downcast, downhearted, heartsick, heartsore, inconsolable, tearful, brokenhearted, careworn, crestfallen, forlorn, gloomy, glum, low-spirited, miserable, sad, triste, unhappy, woebegone, bawling, crying, groaning, howling

Near Antonyms of Funeral

delighted, exulting, glorying, happy, joyful, rejoicing, triumphant, bright, cheerful, cheering, cheery, laughing, smiling, blissful, blithe, blithesome, buoyant, jocund, jolly, joyous, lighthearted, merry, mirthful, encouraging, hopeful, optimistic, ecstatic, elated, euphoric, exhilarated

Origin & Etymology of Funeral

Middle English, from Late Latin funeralis, from Latin funer-, funus funeral (noun)

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Funeral

Words & Phrases Containing Funeral

funeral director, funeral home, it's (someone's) funeral

Frequently Asked Questions about Funeral

What does "Funeral" mean?

"Funeral" means of, relating to, or constituting a funeral. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: of, relating to, or constituting a funeral. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Funeral"?

Other words for "Funeral" include embalmment, burial, burying, entombing, entombment, inhumation, interment and interring. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Funeral" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Funeral"?

There are 96 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Funeral". Common alternatives include embalmment, burial, burying, entombing, entombment, inhumation, interment, interring, obsequy and sepulture.

What is the opposite of "Funeral"?

Antonyms of "Funeral" include disinterment, exhumation, unearthing and cremation. Near antonyms include delighted, exulting, glorying and happy.

How do you use "Funeral" in a sentence?

Examples of "Funeral" in a sentence: "a slow and heavy funeral song".

Is "Funeral" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Funeral" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Funeral" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Funeral" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Funeral"?

"Funeral" is pronounced /ˈfyü-nə-rəl/ and divided into syllables as fu·ner·al.