dead-end

1 of 3

adjective

ˈded-ˌend 

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

ˌded-ˈen-dəd-nəs 

noun

dead-end

2 of 3

verb

ˈded-ˈend 

dead-ended; dead-ending; dead-ends

intransitive verb

: to come to a dead end : terminate

the road dead-ends at the lake

the investigation dead-ended

dead end

3 of 3

noun

ˈded-ˈend 

1

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

2

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

Synonyms

Verb

• end
• stop
• halt
• conclude
• expire
• cease

Examples of dead-end in a Sentence

Verb

after several fruitless years, the research seems to have simply dead-ended

Noun

We came to a dead end and had to turn around.

My career has hit a dead end.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

What looks like dead-end research today could become a building block for tomorrow’s cure. —Roomy Khan, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025

Balancing gripping espionage, office tensions and Herron’s deeply funny prose, the Slow Horses books focus on M15’s fictional Slough House unit: the career dead-end for screw-ups, ne’er-do-wells and the odd spy who’s just had a bit of bad luck. —Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025

Verb

Kimberly Weinberger stars as Connie, a cautious, mildly depressive woman in a dead-end relationship with an older man, and Alex Chernow plays Tristan, a fiery, almost childlike loner with secrets. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Sep. 2025

With three exposures on a block that dead-ends above the East River, the house is also filled with beautiful light. —Kim Velsey, Curbed, 22 Sep. 2025

Noun

Doctors could not diagnose him, and the family hit dead end after dead end. —Joey Garrison, USA Today, 28 Sep. 2025

Climb an observation tower to look at it from above and wander through the labyrinth to find something unexpected at each dead end. —AFAR Media, 24 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1919, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1944, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1886, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dead-end

• amend
• append
• ascend
• attend
• backend
• befriend
• boyfriend
• commend
• compend
• contend
• defend
• depend

Kids Definition

dead-end

1 of 2 adjective

ˌded-ˌend

1

a

: having no opportunities for advancement

a dead-end job

b

: lacking an exit

dead-end street

2

: unruly

dead-end kids

dead end

2 of 2 noun

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