more dead than alive

phrase

: very close to death
When we found her, she was more dead than alive.

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“More dead than alive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/more%20dead%20than%20alive. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster