1
as in deceased
no longer living
I inherited this heirloom from my dead great-grandfather
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in slow
lacking in gaiety, movement, or animation
the store is often dead after 4:00 p.m.
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in tired
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness
a long day of traveling left them just dead
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in absolute
having no exceptions or restrictions
there was a dead silence following that incredibly moving performance
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in numb
lacking in sensation or feeling
my foot was dead after I absentmindedly sat on it for an hour
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in extinct
no longer existing
the dead Babylonian culture
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7
as in dormant
not being in a state of use, activity, or employment
local coal mines that have been dead for years
Synonyms & Similar Words
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8
as in deadly
of, relating to, or suggestive of death
fell into a dead faint upon hearing the news
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
9
10
as in bland
lacking in taste or flavor
from the first sip I could tell that the wine hadn't aged well and was pretty much dead
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11
as in barren
producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation
the dead wastes of the far country to the west
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1
as in straight
in a direct line or course
the finish line is dead ahead
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2
as in completely
to a full extent or degree
I'm dead certain that's the one I want
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in death
the state of being dead
it's impossible to raise someone from the dead
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dead
Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
Five people are dead, including the gunman, and eight others are being treated at Henry Ford Genesys Hospital.
—Kristen Jordan Shamus, Freep.com, 28 Sep. 2025
Cherie Kloss, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The couple’s son reportedly rushed to his parents’ home and was the one who first discovered them dead inside.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Russia takes great pride in the many giant cemeteries honoring the over 20 million Soviet dead lost in WWII, known as the Great Patriot War.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dead
Adjective
The boy was pronounced dead at the scene, per the release.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
Five people are dead, including the gunman, and eight others are being treated at Henry Ford Genesys Hospital.
—Kristen Jordan Shamus, Freep.com, 28 Sep. 2025
Adverb
We are conditioned to believe that being a good mother, loving wife, or responsible adult puts our interests dead last.
—Cherie Kloss, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The couple’s son reportedly rushed to his parents’ home and was the one who first discovered them dead inside.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
Later that night, someone stole five chickens from the park and left a sixth dead.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Russia takes great pride in the many giant cemeteries honoring the over 20 million Soviet dead lost in WWII, known as the Great Patriot War.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dead
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dead
Adjective
-
Israel would also return the remains of 15 Palestinians for every deceased Israeli.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
-
In footage published by the outlet, the mother is seen taking out garbage at the Airbnb on Tinarra Cres in Kenmore Hills less than 24 hours before she and her daughter were found deceased.—
Latoya Gayle,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The slow start that Mayfield is alluding to has to do with the Buccaneers only scoring two field goals through the first half, and scoring their first touchdown well into the third quarter.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Construction in the section of Jackson Park, often described as Chicago’s equivalent of Central Park, has been slow.—
Christine Valora,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
New York fairgoers eventually grew tired of this, Pirro said.—
Ayana Archie,
NPR,
27 Sep. 2025
-
On the Blumarine spring 2026 runway in Milan on Friday, models tapped into their inner bohemian-fairy party girl personas with charcoal eyeliner smudged around their eyes, faded hues on their lips and tired waves in their hair.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Our first stop on IndyStar's political reporting tour was an absolute ball.—
Marissa Meador,
IndyStar,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Keep an eye on Bell kicker Grady Matcham, who has been an absolute game-changer for the Blue Raiders this season.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
So, like, the top of my ass, that skin part is numb.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Rob yelled into the wind that his toes were growing numb.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Well-preservation of the skin Lariosaurus is the name of an extinct nothosauroid genus — a type of marine reptile — that existed during the Middle Triassic period (roughly 247–235 million years ago).—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Most of them are going extinct in the wild.—
Eyder Peralta,
NPR,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The antibiotic became effective when dormant cells were given sugar (a food source), but only after a 15-minute delay.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Sep. 2025
-
There are also showings on 70mm, Imax 70mm and even four venues projecting in the long-dormant format VistaVision, which Anderson shot the film on.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
During a three-day rampage of gang violence, some 80 people died — the deadliest days in El Salvador since its civil war.—
T. Christian Miller,
ProPublica,
30 Sep. 2025
-
One Pasteurella-like microbe carried genetic hints of virulence and has ties to deadly outbreaks in modern African elephants.—
Pranjal Malewar,
New Atlas,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dead. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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