dead-end

adjective \ ˈded-ˌend \

|Updated on: 15 Jul 2018

Examples: dead-end in a Sentence

Definition of dead-end

1 a : lacking opportunities especially for advancement

a dead-end job

b : lacking an exit

a dead-end street

2 : unruly

dead-end kids

—

dead-endedness

play \ˌded-ˈen-dəd-nəs\ noun

See dead-end defined for kids

First Known Use of dead-end

1919

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

dead-end

verb \ ˈded-ˈend \

Definition of dead-end

intransitive verb

: to come to a dead end : terminate

the road dead-ends at the lake

the investigation dead-ended

First Known Use of dead-end

1944

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

dead-end Synonyms

Phrases

bite the dust;

dead end

noun \ ˈded-ˈend \

Definition of dead end

1 : an end (as of a street) without an exit

2 : a position, situation, or course of action that leads to nothing further

See dead end defined for English-language learners

See dead end defined for kids

Examples of dead end in a Sentence

We came to a dead end and had to turn around.
My career has hit a dead end.

Recent Examples of dead end from the Web

Hilbert Lane previously had a dead end just west of Doll's neighborhood.

— tom daykin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "After long debate, Germantown's Saxony Village is opening apartments aimed at millennials," 6 July 2018
The shrillness of the debate and increasing polarization not only between the Republican and Democratic parities but within them suggest there’s no exit from this dead end anywhere in sight.

— michael smolens, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Immigration reform seems impossible now ... and forever?," 1 July 2018
But in the final half hour Mooney unhelpfully widens her focus, chasing numerous self-referential ideas down conceptual dead ends and indulging in scattershot anecdote assemblage rather than meaningful resolution of her tantalizing material.

— justin hayford, Chicago Reader, "A playwright’s attack on her own character amounts to Empty Threats," 21 June 2018
But there were a lot of other things that struck me as unsatisfying narrative detours or dead ends.

— todd vanderwerff, Vox, "Is Westworld moving forward or going in circles?," 18 June 2018
Mark was coming up with dead ends while trying to find something that explains Luke’s stature in Franklin.

— vince ellis, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Pistons' Luke Kennard was groomed to be NBA player — by his dad," 17 June 2018
Other residents worry about increased traffic on Taffy Drive, a narrow road which now dead ends at the Honerlaw property and would be extended into the new subdivision, which will be known as Westview.

— sue kiesewetter, Cincinnati.com, "M/I Homes wants to put 106 homes on West Chester property," 14 June 2018
My preferred route is to hike among the colored layers of exposed rock dating back 250 million years on the 3.08-mile-long Givens-Spicer-Lowry Trail, which dead ends into the Lighthouse Trail.

— dale blasingame, San Antonio Express-News, "The top 6 hikes in Texas state parks," 11 June 2018
For years, your goal is to keep providing middle, and to avoid dead ends at all costs.

— matthew gilbert, BostonGlobe.com, "The ever-improving art of the perfect ending," 31 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dead end.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of dead end

1886

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

DEAD-END Defined for English Language Learners

dead end

noun

Definition of dead end for English Language Learners

: a street that ends instead of joining with another street so that there is only one way in and out of it
: a situation, plan, or way of doing something that leads to nothing further