denser; densest
1
: having parts that are close together
They cut a path through the dense jungle.
dense undergrowth
The book's pages were dense [=packed, filled] with helpful ideas.
the cat's dense [=thick] coat of fur
a dense tangle of wires
heavy, dense bread
a dense cluster of stars
2
: crowded with people
That part of the city has a dense population of immigrants.
A dense mass of spectators filled the courtroom.
3
informal
: not smart : not able to understand things easily
I'm sorry to be so dense [=slow-witted, stupid, dumb] this morning.
In the movie, she plays his kind but somewhat dense aunt.
4
: difficult to see through
We drove through dense [=thick] fog/smoke.
5
: difficult to understand
especially
: hard to read
The book's technical subject and dense prose will discourage many readers.
6
technical
: heavier than most things of the same size
a dense substance like lead or mercury
a disease that causes bones to become less dense [=to become less solid and heavy]
Cite this Entry
“Dense.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/dense. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.
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